Leave me out, Rafizi steers clear of 'internal plot' hint

Rafizi Ramli has stressed that he does not wish to get involved in the sex scandal implicating Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali.

"I don't want to get involved in this matter, not even at the party level... Let the authorities investigate this," the PKR vice-president told Malaysiakini this afternoon.

He was responding to Sabah PKR Youth deputy chief Blisson Zainuddin's claim that Haziq Abdullah Abdul Aziz was aligned to Rafizi's camp during last year's party election.

Blisson also claimed that despite being a newcomer, Haziq was given clearance to contest in the polls.

However, Rafizi, who had failed to unseat Azmin as PKR deputy president in the polls, said it was he who had raised questions about Haziq's eligibility to contest.

"I was actually the one that pointed out that Haziq had left the party," he told Malaysiakini.

A source close to Azmin's camp had on Wednesday shared with Malaysiakini a screenshot of a deleted tweet by Rafizi last year, questioning why Haziq was allowed to contest in the PKR election eventhough he had quit the party to join Sarawak's PBB.

"However, upon checking, Haziq never followed through on the application to quit the party, so technically he was a party member all along," Rafizi clarified.

A source had told Malaysiakini that Haziq had intended to quit the party in 2016.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, however, said the party never received his resignation letter.

Likewise, no complaints were lodged with the party when Haziq became an intern for then-minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri, whom he also campaigned for during the 14th General Election.

Rafizi also referred to public statements where Hafiq, who is the Santubong PKR Youth chief, had supported Najwan Halimi for the national Youth chief position in the party polls.

Najwan was closely aligned to Azmin but became a third force in the election, which was believed to be due to disagreements with another Azmin protege and Youth chief contender, Dr Afif Bahardin.

Meanwhile, Rafizi also distanced himself from Blisson's (picture) allegation that some PKR leaders might be protecting Haziq since the latter has not been suspended or expelled from the party.

Rafizi believes this was in reference to the political bureau meeting on Wednesday, which he did not attend.

"I decided not to attend, because whatever the party's decision it will appear as though it was orchestrated by me,” he said.

Haziq had confessed to being the person in the clips showing him indulging in sexual acts with another man, whom he claimed was Azmin.

Azmin has described this as a plot to ruin his political career. - Mkini