"I am here to be accountable to voters" - Rafizi Reveals He Will Defend Pandan Seat in GE16

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Recently, former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli revealed that he will remain active in politics and will defend the Pandan parliamentary seat in the next general election.

However, he refused to reveal whether he will contest as an independent candidate.

Rafizi, who is also the MP for Pandan, told Sin Chew Daily in an exclusive interview that this June marks exactly one year since he resigned as the Minister of Economy. He feels it is the best time to decide his political direction, and he is prepared to face any party disciplinary action at any moment, including suspension or expulsion.

“I believe one year is enough time for me to observe public sentiment, meet the people, and decide my next steps. The general election is not far away, it could be within a year or even sooner,” he shared.

“I owe a responsibility to the voters of Pandan and to my supporters nationwide. They will want to know whether I will contest in the next general election, and in what capacity.”

He said that the current PKR has deteriorated into a party that only follows the Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and that everything in the party now revolves around Anwar, with absolute obedience to him.

PKR no longer the same

“PKR has forgotten its original purpose. It no longer carries its initial hopes. I joined the party because of its progressive, multiracial, professional, and open ideals and values.”

“Back then, we relied on progressiveness, outspokenness, and boldness to win votes. But after winning votes and taking power to become prime minister, many of these traits have disappeared. All Anwar wants is for everyone to believe in him,” he added.

He believes that the major changes in PKR are largely due to the party coming into power, after which Anwar shifted his focus entirely to government operations

He explained, “In such a structure, dissenting voices in the party become difficult. But I am not a civil servant. I am not here to ‘serve the Prime Minister’, I am here to be accountable to voters.”

“However, in his (Anwar’s) eyes, independent thinking is not a trait of a ‘good party member’; a good party member must cooperate with the party president who is also the prime minister.”

Stay tuned for more updates.

Also read: “Stop pretending like it’s unimportant” – Rafizi Ramli Predicts Mandarin Could Overtake English as Top Language