Rafizi Sabah Candidates Show Pkr Didn T Learn From Malacca Wipeout

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Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has slammed the party’s strategy for the upcoming Sabah state election after it revealed several candidates known for their party-hopping antics.
Taking the matter to X, Rafizi reminded PKR how the party sustained a major loss in the 2021 Malacca state election when they fielded a slew of “calon lompat pasang siap” (political frogs).
“PKR emerged on the country’s political stage with a promise to bring a new way of politics and get rid of the old culture that treats the people’s mandate as a bargaining chip.
“PKR has had experience contesting an election by fielding former representatives who had defected from other parties - this happened during the previous Malacca state election.
“The outcome was poor. PKR lost all seats, despite previously recording its biggest victory in its history in Malacca during the 2018 general election.
“Each of us - especially those leading political parties - will always face two choices in every decision: whether to take the shortcut to victory (for example, by selecting ready-made defecting candidates); or to strive for victory through the hard work of nurturing and developing our own candidates,” he said.
Rafizi’s statement was sarcastically titled “From Reformasi to Reformanan and Now Reformusa”, which was understood to be aimed at Sabah governor Musa Aman’s son, Yamani Hafez, who is one of the 10 candidates PKR revealed on Sunday.
Track record of hopping
According to the former economy minister, out of the 10 candidates, four are “parachute candidates” who either joined PKR only recently or hopped from another party.
Rafizi named the four as former senior federal officer Ruji Ubi, who will contest the Merotai state seat, Yamani (Sindumin), Jamawi Jaafar (Melalap), and George Hiew (Karamunting).
He said while he could understand why PKR chose Ruji, a high-profile individual who can add value to the party, its decision to field the three others could backfire.
Rafizi pointed out that Yamani and Jamawi had a track record of abandoning their parties to join whoever is holding federal power, while Hiew had left DAP for Warisan and later joined GRS before ending up in PKR.
Yamani Hafez Musa“There have long been differing views in PKR regarding party-hopping candidates. One view sees such candidates as a windfall, because those who ‘party hop’ are usually those who are already known by the people, have positions and influence.
“If the person who switches parties is a former representative of that same constituency, the chances of winning may be higher.
“Another view, however, holds that it does not align with the party’s Reformasi spirit, which seeks principled politicians.
“If a party-hopping candidate truly embodies the reformist spirit, we wouldn’t have needed to contest against them in the first place - either they would have already been in PKR from the start, or they would have been a good representative in their own right.
“For me, the party’s strategy must always be in tune with the will of the people,” Rafizi said. - Mkini

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