Anwar brushes aside ‘bodek’ remarks

SHAH ALAM: After Rafizi Ramli warned the new PKR leadership not to fawn over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the party president downplayed his deputy’s remarks, saying that he was not upset by them.

Anwar said Rafizi’s comments reflected his personality of being critical.

“I’m not unduly perturbed by this sort of attempt (by Rafizi). But I will of course expect him to adjust a bit.

“Once Rafizi is officially made deputy president at the party’s national congress tomorrow (today), he is expected to toe the party line.

“Whether my decision or his, once we decide, I will defend him to the end,” said Anwar at a press conference yesterday, on the second day of the party’s three-day national congress held here.

Anwar also said that PKR was different from other political parties in that its members were free to voice criticisms against the leadership.

Speaking to the media earlier, Rafizi had warned the new PKR leadership to stop being “apple-polishers” to Anwar but to focus on winning the hearts of the people as the 15th General Election loomed.

Without naming anyone, Rafizi said one of the main issues currently plaguing the party was the few individuals around Anwar who constantly protected him.

“They feel they must defend Anwar to the point that he is above everything else. It cannot be that way,” said the candid former Pandan MP.

“What’s important to the party and the new leadership is not to ‘bodek’ (apple-polishing) Anwar or even try to defend him.

“Anwar is Anwar Ibrahim and he does not need to be defended.”

Rafizi also said the new party leadership must find a new formula or policies that appealed to the voters.

“For example, if PKR isn’t really successful among the youth, then we have to find a way around it,” he added.

He also said that the new PKR leadership was set to be finalised in the coming two weeks, adding that it was time for the party to find new ways forward to combine the strengths of all opposition parties.

However, he said the PKR leadership must not sideline the concerns by core Pakatan Harapan supporters over possible cooperation among all Opposition parties in GE15. “If the sentiment translates to an open rejection of the ‘big tent’, and we still go ahead, how do we convince supporters?

“We must scrutinise every effort to bring other parties or groups on board, and we also need to see if there will be negative effects,” added Rafizi.

There have been heated debates among party grassroots over whether Opposition parties should cooperate with Perikatan Nasional to ensure straight fights against Barisan Nasional in GE15.

Anwar previously said that cooperation between different political parties during a general election should not be discounted despite party grassroots remaining against the idea.