PKR members have been urged to choose a deputy president for the party who will not compete with Anwar Ibrahim to become the next prime minister.
In this year's PKR leadership elections, incumbent deputy president cum Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali is being hotly challenged by former secretary-general Rafizi Ramli.
When Anwar becomes PM, Rafizi said, his second in line (deputy president of PKR) must be someone who is totally committed to his boss' cause.
Rafizi said Anwar's second-in-command must ensure that the PKR leader continues with his visions to reform Malaysia.
"It is not our job to topple Anwar in his political career and his future," Rafizi told a crowd of 200 at the party's 20th anniversary do - #reformasi20tahun - in Bayan Baru, Penang, last night.
Anwar, who won the PKR presidency uncontested on Aug 8, is slated to take over from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in two years' time, although Mahathir has indicated he may stay on a prime minister a little longer.
But there has been speculation that Azmin (photo) and Mahathir have been plotting against Anwar, together with Mahathir's closest ally Daim Zainuddin, but the trio has denied the claim and challenged their accuser to provide proof.
Accompanying Rafizi at the even last night were outgoing PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh), William Leong (Selayang), Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani) and S Kesavan (Sungai Siput), and Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Abdul Halim Hussein, who moderated the event.
Rafizi, the former MP for Pandan - who has been disqualified from contesting in GE14 due to a court conviction - said the party does not wish to experience any more hardship that could derail Anwar's plan to be PM.
"Once Anwar becomes PM, he should be focusing on his work and duties in helping the rakyat, instead of looking out if someone is trying to poke him from the back," Rafizi said.
"If people continue to poke him while he is driving his car, he might meet with accidents. When will he ever go forward?"
'Enough of backdoor dealings'
Rafizi also made it clear that PKR members have had enough of "backdoor dealings" by certain quarters to disrupt the party president's decisions.
"When the party has made a decision, when Pakatan Harapan leaders have decided to name a menteri besar candidate, we do not want certain quarters to go by the back door and submit a name that was not proposed by the Harapan leadership.
"When the party president has decided to submit names to Putrajaya (for minister or deputy minister's posts), we do not want people with different cables to submit different names so that a different scenario is created," he added.
Rafizi may be speaking in riddles, but is seen as likely to be referring to the appointment of Selangor Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shaari (photo), who replaced Azmin, and the party's selection of ministers and their deputies, where some names were dropped due to the intervention of "a hidden hand".
"When Anwar becomes PM, we do not want backdoor dealings of this sort to reverse whatever decisions he makes as PM," he said.
Rafizi also expressed his willingness to remain in the frontline, as he has done in the past 20 years in the reformasi movement without hoping to be awarded posts or titles.
"I was the one who exposed corruption. I was arrested and put in a lock-up and I was disqualified from contesting in the general election. It was alwas me, it's not a problem, it will always be me, from the beginning to the end," Rafizi lamented.
"For me, the party and its struggles are more important, which is why I offered to contest (against Azmin) for the deputy president post," he added. - Mkini
Don't we have enough "yes men" for the last 60+ years? Do we still want to continue with this unhealthy practice? I leave it to PKR voters to answer.
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