Rafizi stays in race: Vows to strengthen PKR, regardless of election outcome

SHAH ALAM - Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has confirmed that he will contest to retain his position as PKR deputy president in the party elections later this month.

Rafizi also expressed his support for the participation of PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, both of whom have shown interest in vying for the post.

He stressed that the right to contest is fundamental to democracy and should be celebrated.

“I welcome the contest for the deputy president position and look forward to using this platform, alongside other candidates, to strengthen the party.

“This is a win-win situation for me. Regardless of the outcome, the decision of the party delegates will allow me to contribute to strengthening PKR as we prepare for the 16th General Election (GE16)," Rafizi said.

Rafizi added that if re-elected as deputy president, he would continue his leadership role both within the party and the government.

Should he not win, he is ready to return to the grassroots, actively campaigning on the ground.

Speculation had surfaced earlier that Rafizi might step back from party politics after taking an extended leave, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the recent PKR branch elections, where many candidates from his camp were defeated.

It was also suggested that Rafizi had considered resigning during a meeting with his supporters following the PKR central leadership council (MPP) meeting on April 23.

During his leave from April 29 to May 5, Rafizi met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Saifuddin, sharing his concerns about the government’s campaign strategy ahead of GE16.

He revealed that he had discussed the possibility of resigning from the Cabinet to focus on grassroots campaigning and even considered stepping aside from the deputy president race for the 2025–2028 term.

“In my meetings with Anwar and Saifuddin, I expressed my belief that the GE16 campaign strategy needs refinement, especially in light of current public sentiment.

“I also conveyed that I was open to not contesting for deputy president or serving in the Cabinet if it would allow me to focus more on grassroots campaigning," he added.

Rafizi cited concerns over the government’s current campaign approach, which he felt lacked the offensive strategy used when PKR was in opposition.

“As a minister, my position binds me to government consensus, making it harder to campaign as freely as I would like. This has contributed to the perception that the party’s campaign lacks aggressiveness,” he said.

Despite this, Rafizi revealed that both Anwar and Saifuddin urged him to remain in the deputy president race and continue his role in the Cabinet.

“They both agreed that my presence in the race is necessary and that I should stay involved in both the party and government,” he said.

Rafizi also clarified that his extended leave was taken to address issues arising from the PKR branch elections.

He had submitted a formal leave request to the Prime Minister to focus on resolving tensions at the grassroots level.

“As deputy president, it was important for me to address the concerns of candidates, regardless of their affiliations,” he said.

He argued that party leadership should be distinct from ministerial positions, highlighting the importance of a new political culture that separates these responsibilities.