Don't pull a gimmick like Muhyiddin, Rafizi tells Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Although the debates in the PKR congress are dull, don’t pull a "gimmick" like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, says Rafizi Ramli to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in an apparent swipe at the Bersatu chief.

He said unlike the high-octane debates in the previous annual congresses when PKR was still the Opposition, the debates this year were rather dull.

"I rarely make any request to Anwar. I just want to make a request to Anwar, even if the debates are dull today, please don’t stage a gimmick like Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin," the PKR deputy president said during his winding up speech at the party’s congress on Sunday (Nov 26).

"People would say the prime minister’s popularity has dipped, the debates at the congress were dull and Datuk Seri Anwar would say that he will step down. After that, he would consult Kak Wan (Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail)," Rafizi said.

The Economy Minister also noted that the debaters had taken the PKR ministers to task at the congress.

"Before we became the government, we would criticise the Opposition. I see now there is a new method. To get support and claps, the debaters will criticise the ministers on (the stage)," he said.

"I think after this whoever who wants to be a minister or deputy minister must sign an 'Aku Janji' that they are ready to be criticised at the yearly congress," he added.

He, however, said he agreed with many of the views aired.

On Friday (Nov 24), Muhyiddin announced his decision not to defend his post at the next party polls, at Bersatu’s AGM.

On Saturday (Nov 25), Muhyiddin announced that he would stay on for another term as Bersatu president after receiving blessings from his wife.

Muhyiddin also brushed off talk that his announcement not to defend his post at the next party polls as a gimmick to fish for support.