GEORGE TOWN: The Opposition’s attempt to instigate on internal issues to destabilise PKR underestimates how long the party has been together, says its deputy president Rafizi Ramli (pic).
"I am a bit surprised that the Opposition thinks that such attempts can destabilise us.
"PKR is open and robust to differences and clashes of ideas.
"What happened in the party elections as far as I am concerned has gone through the process.
"In fact, it was not Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who lodged a report, it was people affiliated to Farhash (former PKR leader Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak).
"A report was lodged and we went through the process.
"Although it is made out to be a big deal, it is not as it is our culture to respect each other's views and rights.
"It does not affect us and is a non-issue to me," he claimed during a press conference after the half-term engagement session of the 12th Malaysia Plan held at Olive Tree Hotel here in Bayan Lepas on Saturday (July 22).
Rafizi, who is also the Economy Minister, was responding to a question on an Opposition leader stating that there were internal issues with attempts to invalidate Rafizi's election results in the party polls.
Former home minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin recently alleged that Saifuddin had attempted to nullify the results of the 2022 PKR elections after the latter lost his bid to become deputy president.
In May last year, Rafizi defeated Saifuddin with a majority for the number two post.
Rafizi said they were both in the government and they have known each other for a long time.
Rafizi said opponents underestimate how long the key leadership of PKR has been together.
"The difference is I suppose unlike their parties, we can disagree with each other.
"I do not necessarily agree with Saifuddin and sometimes, I do not even agree with the Prime Minister.
"That does not change anything and I think that is our strength.
"Good attempt by them (Opposition) but it is not going to make any difference in the dynamics of the elections.
"The voters can tell the PKR elections have always been intense and people can tell it is that way because we campaign openly.
"Every time we have party elections, people have said our party will self-implode but every single time, it gets stronger and we bring everyone together," he said.
On a separate note, Rafizi said it is former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s right to ask the people to defend the country from being ruled by a failed government ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Rafizi said it was the right of anyone to say anything during campaigning.
He said leaders are encouraged to throw their ideas to the people but he believed that they (the people) would vote based on their previous experience.
"His (Dr Mahathir’s) presence at the Perikatan Nasional rally in Kelantan recently was a gathering of an ‘emotional gang’ who disliked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"He (Dr Mahathir) had a previous record with PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
"When he speaks on their stage, there will be a different effect on different people.
"There may be voters who like what he says and there may be those who question his principles and stand before this.
"I think it is best for us to leave it to the people to decide on the state elections.
"The state elections are the best platform for us to compare policies and programmes to resolve the country and people’s issues.
“It is not good if it is used as a platform to play up emotions.
"I am confident that the people can judge for themselves," he said.
Rafizi said they (the Federal Government) has work to do and cannot resolve all these problems with emotions.
“We have a good policy, which is to focus on how to deliver to the people and let them decide based on our work," he said.
