FORMER economy minister and PKR deputy leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli is to announce, along with his colleague Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, their next move in politics this Sunday (May 17).
The Pandan MP said the past year has allowed them both time to consider various views, considerations and factors in deciding their next political direction.
“The announcement will be made at the PJ Performing Arts Centre at Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, at 2pm. The event is open to the public,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (May 13).
“I invite Malaysians from all over the country and from various backgrounds, who want to nurture a progressive political trend, to attend this ceremony.”
The announcement by Rafizi caught the attention of the party’s secretary general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, who responded on social media, saying, “We shall wait and see”.
Recently, Fuziah became the laughing stock among pro-Rafizi social media users after she sent letters of demand to Rafizi, seeking an explanation for his statements about the party and its leadership.
The clock is ticking, and it seems that Rafizi and the party will soon draw the line.
Nevertheless, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said that Malaysia is a democracy and Rafizi has the absolute freedom to decide on what he is planning to do next. No one knows if it means the party will simply let go of Rafizi without pressing for his resignation from the party.
Meanwhile, analysts are saying it will be impossible for Rafizi to remain with the PKR after Sunday, as he is bound to take a different path.
Some analysts say Rafizi may not join any of the existing political groupings since he has shown that he does not want to be a follower anymore, but instead he wants to play the role of a leading mover.
“Now there are only two most reasonable political choices for Rafizi, either to form a new party or join an existing small party and at the same time, lead that party.
“Whether to establish a new party or lead an existing small party, it will become a new third force in 16th General Election later,” Malaysiakini reported Universiti Malaysia Terengganu senior lecturer Associate Professor Mohd Yusri Ibrahim as saying.
The Ilham Centre, however, believes both options carry some risk for Pakatan Harapan (PH) because the segment reacting to Rafizi’s movements is the same as PH supporters.
Whether Rafizi creates a new political formation or not, this Sunday’s move could mean that he will pull a significant segment of PH supporters away with him.
There are no indications that other MPs from PKR will also be present this Sunday. Rafizi has had the support of at least nine to 10 MPs on various occasions. A smaller number of MPs went to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission HQ to show their support for the once-powerful PKR MP. — Focus Malaysia
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