“Hero with b*lls” Rafizi on course to disrupt PKR but will he trigger early GE16 with BERSAMA?

 

DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli has lived up to his “Formula King” reputation when he exacted revenge at PKR – the party which he joined in its 2003 as its youth wing treasurer to eventually excelled as an election strategist – by unleashing a new political platform via the takeover of the Malaysian United Party a.k.a. Parti Bersama Malaysia.

While it remains to be seen if the former PKR deputy director who yesterday (May 17) put his new offerings on the table to put an end to his fall-out with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and successor Nurul Izzah Anwar is able to re-live his past glory, a renewed sense of excitement nevertheless filled the air.

To the former economy minister who has already sparked an exodus from PKR as disgruntlement grew over allegedly unfair treatment on him coupled with stale reform agenda, more misery could be piling up for the former as the BERSAMA membership is now open with a mere RM20 to be a lifetime party member.

Early polls

But the more pressing question from yesterday’s multiple revelations is the prospect of an early national poll stemming from Rafizi and former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad having resigned from PKR and at the same time relinquished their Pandan and Setiawangsa MP-ship respectively.

The duo would resign as MPs effective today (May 18) before joining Bersama tomorrow (May 19).

For starter, while a parliamentary seat being vacated can trigger a by-election, this requirement is waived if the vacancy takes place within the final two years of the parliamentary term.

Given that Rafizi and Nik Nazmi have vacated their seats to join Bersama, consequently, the Pandan and Setiawangsa parliamentary seats are expected to sit empty rather than triggering a sudden, nationwide early election.

Nevertheless, political uncertainties elsewhere can always trigger an opportunity for Bersama to test its new-found influence.

This came about as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has hinted at the possibility of dissolving Parliament to hold the 16th General Election (GE16) early if the action by coalition partners in the unity government continues to undermine political stability.

The stance came in the wake of Johor UMNO’s announcement Barisan Nasional (BN) will contest all 56 seats in the state election that must be held on or before Feb 25, 2027.

Henceforth, PMX who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman countered that if the coalition partners choose to “fight” and break ties, he would not hesitate to return the mandate to the rakyat to determine the future of the country’s leadership.

“In fact, in the near future, I’ve to call the PH leadership to negotiate,” the PKR president told the PH Convention 2026 in Johor Bahru which coincidentally clashed with Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s mega “Political Direction Announcement”.

“Not only in these states, but we’ve to think seriously. If this is how we’re compartmentalising and breaking ties within the Madani government, it is possible that we’ll choose to hold a general election nationwide?”.

Whatever the outcome is, at least Rafizi and Nik Nazmi need not be subject to the hefty RM10 mil PKR bond for party hopping given they are giving up their MP-ship first prior to leaving PKR.

“The risk of facing PKR lawsuit or the bond only arises if we leave the party and join another party while still serving as MPs,” Rafizi told the media after unveiling his and Nik Nazmi’s new political direction.

Previously, no MP was willing to vacate their seat because everyone wanted to remain an MP while switching parties. What we’re doing today is vacating the seats and returning the mandate to the rakyat.

So when we quit PKR as members on Tuesday (May 19), we’re no longer bound by the bond.

Our decision is to ensure that this is not seen as party-hopping. Because we respect the mandate we won under PKR and PH’s ticket, we’re therefore vacating our seats.

Meanwhile, PKR has confirmed that the party membership of Rafizi and Nik Nazmi is automatically terminated under the party’s constitution following their announcement to resign from the party and vacate their parliamentary seats.

In a statement, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said the party has received recordings of speeches by both the MPs who had declared their decision to leave the party and relinquish their seats.

She said under Clause 9(1)(c) of the party constitution, their announcement automatically ends their membership in the party.

The declaration was also in line with Article 49A (1)(a)(ii) of the Federal Constitution which states that a Dewan Rakyat seat must be vacated if an elected representative ceases to be a member of a political party under which he or she was elected.

According to Fuziah, the party would next refer the matter to the Dewan Rakyat speaker to determine the status of the two MPs in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

On the same note, Fuziah added that PKR would also review the status of other party members who were present at the event where the announcement was made. –  Focus Malaysia