Sivarasa decision shows widening Rafizi-Anwar rift, says analyst

 

All is not well between Rafizi Ramli (left) and Anwar Ibrahim, but they will have to work together to face the general election, says analyst Oh Ei Sun.

PETALING JAYA: The disagreement between PKR’s top two over the dropping of R Sivarasa highlights the growing rift between Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy, Rafizi Ramli, says an analyst.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said that while the duo were once the “closest comrades”, it is clear that they have grown “estranged” politically after the 2018 party election.

For now, he said, Anwar and Rafizi would have to work together to face the general election (GE15), but this did not always mean a united front.

“Rafizi, of course, would not like to take the flak for not fielding certain familiar faces, especially when the ultimate decisions are Anwar’s to make,” he told FMT.

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Oh Ei Sun.

Oh was commenting on Rafizi’s revelation that he wanted to retain Sivarasa for the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat but was overruled by Anwar, who picked former MIC treasurer-general R Ramanan.

Anwar later said he opted against picking Sivarasa because of his “health issues”.

Sivarasa, who first won the Sungai Buloh seat in 2008, defended it in GE14 with a majority of more than 26,000 votes.

Oh said he believed PKR would still be able to retain the seat.

“I think those who vote for PKR ultimately are voting for the party and not so much the particular candidates, especially when PKR in particular, and PH in general, are not renowned for their grassroots machinery.”

Azmi Hassan.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Rafizi’s remarks put Anwar in a bad light, more so if PKR loses the seat.

“Perhaps Rafizi wants to quell unhappiness among the grassroots who want Sivarasa to defend the seat,” he told FMT.

But, he said, it was clear that there was a divide between Anwar and Rafizi.

Azmi said the dropping of big names like Sivarasa, Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya) and Dr Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng) could cost PKR votes.

“Some might protest by abstaining from voting or spoiling their votes. A spoilt vote is as good as a vote for Pakatan Harapan’s rivals,” he said.

He added that the same could be said about DAP’s dropping of popular figures like Charles Santiago (Klang) and Wong Tack (Bentong). - FMT