The Malaysian Insight

MOHAMED Azmin Ali’s proven track record in PKR is set to give him an advantage over his challenger Rafizi Ramli for the deputy president’s post.

According to several Perak PKR grassroots, they are rooting for Azmin because he has played his role to strengthen the party from its inception in 1998 to now.

Teluk Intan Wanita secretary Rosina Mohd Harun said Azmin has been with the party from its tough early days, especially during the imprisonment of then de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.  

“Azmin has a proven track record. He has been loyal to the party, even when times were bad.

“Achievements-wise, Azmin is also proven with his successes in Selangor (as the menteri besar),” she told The Malaysian Insight when met.

The PKR polls will see PKR vice-president Rafizi taking on incumbent Azmin for the deputy president’s post.

In what appears to be a divisive race, Rafizi’s team has been saying in their roadshows that they can revive PKR’s spirit of “reformasi” and only they can ensure Anwar becomes the next prime minister.

Rosina also said Rafizi will not be a threat to Azmin as the members are able to see his proven track record.

“It is a personal problem (between them). The party is not affected. Members will know. They already know the track records (of them),” she said.

Pasir Salak’s deputy chairman candidate Yusof Majid, meanwhile, said there are leaders who are jealous of Azmin’s accomplishments in the party.

“Azmin, because of this credibility, has been consistent. He has always been there.

“He has done good for the people… maybe they are jealous,” he said.

Yusof said Rafizi should just maintain being a vice-president instead of challenging for Azmin’s position, but added that it was “ a new era in politics”.

Meanwhile, some party members see Azmin as the successor to incoming president Anwar when it is time for the latter to handover the reigns of PKR.

“Azmin has proven himself. He has helped the party and Pakatan Harapan a lot. He has also helped other states, not just in Selangor,” Ipoh Timor PKR Youth exco Zafril Mohd Eusoff told The Malaysian Insight.

He added it was terrible of Rafizi and his team to publicly slam Azmin as they are in the same party.

“This is not our culture. We are not fighting against other parties but it is within our party. They whack Azmin as though he is an Umno man. This is not the real reformasi,” Zafril said.

Despite the bad blood during the run-up to the party polls, grassroots members are confident that Anwar will reunite Azmin and Rafizi.

“He (Anwar) needs to restructure the party. Azmin and Rafizi need to play their respective roles to make the party strong,” said Yusof.

Zafril said Anwar has the charisma to make PKR united again after the party polls.

“That is the specialty with him. We are confident that we will be united and the party will be strong. I’m fully in support of Anwar,” he said.  

Wanita chief hopeful Fuziah Salleh, incumbent Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen are among those batting for Rafizi.

Several of them have come out to accuse Azmin and his team as being corrupt and manipulating to gain power.

Azmin’s line up include current Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar and deputy Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin. – August 26, 2018.