Timing of Rafizi’s return perfect for PKR rejuvenation, say analysts

 

The timing of Rafizi Ramili’s comeback is right as PKR is in disarray and lacks unity of purpose, says an analyst.

KOTA KINABALU: The return of Rafizi Ramli to active politics may just be the antidote PKR needs to revitalise and unite its disenchanted followers, political analysts said.

Oh Ei Sun.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the timing of the PKR vice-president’s comeback was right as PKR was in disarray and lacked unity of purpose.

He said it would be good for the party as the former Pandan MP was one of the few presentable leadership figures within PKR.

“And he is well liked beyond PKR,” he told FMT.

Political scientist Wong Chin Huat said Rafizi’s return coincided with an obvious vacuum in leadership. He said this would augur well for many within and outside the party who felt PKR should have leadership renewal.

Wong Chin Huat

“If he wins the deputy president’s post, he will definitely be seen as the next one in line (as president). With his track record through Invoke in the 14th general election (GE14), Rafizi can re-excite many PKR and Pakatan Harapan (PH) sympathisers,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, Rafizi announced his return to active politics, saying he would contest the post of deputy president in the party elections next month.

He also said the future of progressive, multiracial politics would be in danger if PKR and PH continued to be a “third party” which failed to attract undecided voters.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said Rafizi was the favourite to win the post compared to other possible contenders such as former Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.

Awang Azman Pawi.

“This is because Rafizi is seen as a strategist who can plan for a PKR election victory, has experience in political survey work, is forward-looking and is able to attract younger people to move with the party,” he said.

He also said the PKR vice-president represented new hope for the party in its efforts to encourage PKR and opposition supporters disillusioned by PH’s failures to return to back the coalition.

“But he must win the deputy presidency post first before even thinking of uniting PH,” he said.

While Awang Azman sees this as setting in motion the long-term succession plan for the PKR leadership, Oh is not too convinced.

He said it would only be possible if current president Anwar Ibrahim agreed to such a plan, which did not seem apparent at this point.

While Rafizi’s return was a positive development for PKR, Oh said, it remained to be seen if he could woo people back to PH.

Wong said Rafizi’s “problem-solving” approach was what PH needed but cautioned that PKR’s and PH’s fundamental problem was larger than the leadership issue.

“The opposition is stuck in the past, relying on anger mobilisation, thinking that voters should be angry with Umno’s excesses, when voters are suffering political fatigue.

“Rafizi is right in pointing out the flaw in PH’s ‘big tent’ strategy but his attack on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) suggests a possibility that he wants confrontational politics, which won’t go well with middle ground voters.

“His aggressive style did not work well in PKR before. If he continues with that in PH, it is hard to expect a different outcome,” he said. - FMT