Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has urged the party to sack him if it deems him in violation of disciplinary rules, following the party’s decision to serve him with a second show-cause letter.
In a social media post today, Rafizi shared his response to the April 9 letter from PKR’s disciplinary board, which outlined several alleged infractions which had supposedly tarnished the party’s name.
In his reply, Rafizi called on the board to make a firm and quick decision in determining his fate with the party, cautioning against “further delays” as the rakyat are “already nauseated”.
“If my explanations are considered to have violated the party constitution, be like a normal party (that is) not ‘songsang’ (deviant) by taking the action of sacking, as has been done previously to other party members who faced disciplinary charges,” the Pandan MP said.
In February, Rafizi had claimed PKR is attempting to pressure him into leaving the party so he can be removed as an MP.
This came after the Pakatan Harapan component party issued him a show-cause letter accusing him of effectively declaring his resignation from the party when he announced plans to contest the next general election on a non-PKR ticket.
If Rafizi were to declare his departure from PKR, it would trigger the anti-party-hopping provisions, which would force him to vacate his parliamentary seat, rather than retaining it if he were expelled by the party.
Multiple accusations
The latest show-cause letter from disciplinary board chairperson Zainol Samah to Rafizi detailed that the latter had been found to have frequently issued negative statements against the party and its president, Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the prime minister.
Among the matters cited by Zainol include Rafizi’s alleged “attack” against Anwar via claims that the prime minister “tends to expect subordinates to constantly praise him and follow his instructions” and supposed implications that Anwar had “defended” MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.
Noting that Rafizi’s move to join the Tangkap Azam Baki rally had affected public perception of the party and tarnished the party’s image, Zainol added that Rafizi was also found to have made allegations that the prime minister had protected “several individuals with vested interest.”
Zainol wrote that if the concerns against Rafizi’s conduct are proven to be true, the former economy minister would have violated rules under PKR’s code of ethics.
He outlined that Rafizi could have infringed stipulations on protecting confidential information and party secrecy, maintaining the party’s good name, and committing acts that violate party rules and the constitution.
Rafizi’s 4-page response
In a four-page response to the letter, Rafizi maintained that his reprimand against the practice of sycophancy is “not new” and should be regarded with the same level of receptiveness as he was previously afforded.
“If previously my reprimands were received by the president (Anwar) with a smile and openness before he became prime minister, it is only proper that my reminders - having taken risks for decades to defend him and his family until he became prime minister - should also be received with humility after he became prime minister,” Rafizi said.
He added that criticisms of Anwar’s supposed defence of Azam should not be attributed to his speech during the Tangkap Azam Baki demonstrations, as Anwar himself had been outspoken on his backing of Azam amid a slew of accusations against the graft buster’s leader.
Rafizi also addressed the board’s qualms with his claim that Anwar is shielding several individuals, with the backbencher pointing out that Anwar has not initiated any legal action against publications which linked him to his former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.
Rafizi was referring to Bloomberg’s September 2024 report, which implicated Anwar and Azam in a “concerted abuse of investigative powers” concerning supposedly targeted probes by the graftbusters.
The report also claimed that Anwar had ordered Azam not to investigate Farhash over the latter’s purchase of shares in HeiTech Padu Bhd.
More recently, Channel News Asia reported that Anwar had allegedly “ordered” Farhash to cease attempts to take over NexG Berhad, a key technology and security solutions company for Putrajaya.
In his letter, Rafizi also highlighted that despite his decision to openly accuse PKR vice-president R Ramanan of being the MP who allegedly received RM9.5 million from businessperson Victor Chin, he has yet to be served with any sort of legal notice.
“The party president, as prime minister, also did not direct any investigation into the alleged RM9.5 million bribe and did not direct Ramanan to take leave from his position until the investigation is completed.
In a podcast days before Chin’s deadline, Rafizi claimed he had received information that Ramanan had sent a lawyer to meet with the businessperson's representatives to settle the amount allegedly owed.
“A sane, principled person with an instinct to seek the truth can conclude that individuals such as Farhash and Ramanan have very close ties with the party president and are shielded from actions that would be imposed on others, should those others be embroiled in the allegations I mentioned above,” Rafizi added.
Ramanan had dismissed the allegations, insisting he had never met Chin.
- Mkini
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