Let Saifuddin Take Over As Deputy President Pkr Man Tells Rafizi

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 Titiwangsa PKR chief says speculation on Rafizi Ramli’s resignation and his move to take extended leave have caused unease among party members.
Rafizi Ramli (right) won the PKR deputy president’s post with a landslide majority of 16,668 votes over Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in 2022.PETALING JAYA: A divisional PKR leader has called on Rafizi Ramli to make way for Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to take over as the party’s deputy president
Titiwangsa PKR chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said speculation on Rafizi’s resignation and his decision to go on extended leave had caused unease among party members and even within the unity government.
In a statement, Syed Badli said Rafizi should have put such speculation to rest swiftly instead of allowing it to affect the party’s stability.
“Rafizi should not have left it to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (who is also PKR president) to play down the issue when he’s focusing on strengthening the economy and government.
“However, if there is truth to this speculation, I want to suggest that Rafizi compromise by giving Saifuddin an easy pathway to take over as deputy president, by allowing him to win the post uncontested (in this month’s central leadership elections),” he said.
Syed Badli added that Saifuddin, the home minister, was a senior and experienced leader who was capable of serving as Anwar’s second-in-command.
In March, Rafizi said he would defend the PKR deputy presidency, a post he was elected to in 2022 after defeating Saifuddin with a landslide 16,668-vote majority.
However, there were rumours swirling last week that Rafizi had resigned as economy minister after the PKR divisional polls which saw the defeat of several bigwigs aligned with him.
Anwar later played down Rafizi’s leave, saying it was a non-issue and quipping that he, too, was looking to take a few days off soon.
Saifuddin has been coy on whether he will contest the PKR central leadership elections. On Sunday, he said he had held lengthy discussions with Rafizi and several meetings with Anwar on contesting the party polls.
He also said an official announcement would be made soon, before nominations close on May 9. - FMT

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