AMPANG: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s move from Umno to PKR should be avoided, as it may unleash a tide of uncertainty within the unity government, says Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli (pic).
The outgoing Economy Minister said the unity government agreement, which he helped draft, contains no clear rules on parties accepting each other’s members.
“This is a grey area. The agreement doesn’t state whether it’s allowed or not.
“But I believe Umno’s concern stems from the desire to maintain harmony among parties within the unity government.
“This is something that should be avoided, as it could open a door to consequences we can’t foresee,” he told reporters when met at the Madani Youth Carnival 2.0 here yesterday.
To maintain harmony within the unity government, Rafizi suggested that top party leaders meet and discuss the matter.
“If one Umno member joins, how do you draw the line? These are matters that will eventually have to be discussed at the unity government level,” he added.
Rafizi declined to speculate on Tengku Zafrul’s possible entry into PKR.
“Better to ask Tengku Zafrul himself. Ask him what his plans are. If you’re asking about PKR’s plans, ask the new PKR leadership. My decisions have nothing to do with Tengku Zafrul, PKR, Umno or the unity government,” he said.
When asked whether PKR would be open to reciprocal party-hopping if other parties began targeting PKR leaders, Rafizi said such questions should be directed to the top leadership.
“That question should be asked to the central leadership – the president, deputy president and others. I’m just a division chief.”
To another question, Rafizi revealed that he declined an offer to be appointed as a second deputy president after he failed to defend his post against Nurul Izzah Anwar in the recently-concluded PKR election.
“I’ve made it clear from the beginning that I won’t be accepting any offers. That’s already known.
“In fact, when Nurul Izzah met me the other day, she proposed the idea of appointing me as a deputy president, but even if it were a nominated deputy president or president’s post, I’m not interested,” he said.
Rafizi stressed that his decision was not about positions, but about the message and struggle he wants to uphold.
“I will remain a PKR member. That’s a responsibility. Politics must be tied to the mandate and the people who lifted us.
“So if people ask why I’m staying on as Member of Parliament or why I haven’t stepped down, the ones who elected me are the rakyat. I must respect their decision.
“Similarly, I’m still the division chief in Pandan and I must respect the mandate from the Pandan branch,” he said.
He added that he was unaware of any offers to join other political parties and brushed off suggestions of forming his own.
