Shahril Laments Radical Rafizi Being Sidelined Patronage Rewarded

---

 Ex-Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan says Rafizi Ramli’s likely ouster shows how politics sidelines radicals and rewards loyalty.
Former Umno man Shahril Hamdan (left) drew a parallel between Rafizi Ramli and his co-host, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom he said was edged out due to his reform-mindedness in Umno, having once been seen as a radical within the party.PETALING JAYA: The surge in support for former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to contest the PKR deputy president’s post signals a move to sideline incumbent Rafizi Ramli, reflecting a political culture that punishes reformers and rewards loyalty, says former Umno leader Shahril Hamdan
Shahril said Rafizi, despite his perceived issues, is a rare breed in politics and one who is not afraid to challenge the system.
He drew a parallel between Rafizi and his co-host on the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom he said was edged out due to his reform-mindedness in Umno, having once been seen as a radical within the party.
Shahril, a former Umno information chief, said politicians like Rafizi are often pushed out by party moves against outspoken voices.
“There’s a bit of sentimentality in my heart for radical politicians. Our political system often denies people like that and rewards those more aligned with patronage politics,” he said in the latest episode of #KenaSoal on the Keluar Sekejap podcast.
Shahril and Khairy were responding to a fan question about a purported coordinated “tsunami of endorsements” for Nurul Izzah to challenge Rafizi for the PKR deputy presidency.
Khairy said Rafizi’s offer to resign as economy minister and return to the grassroots raised questions about his commitment as a member of the ruling government and the Cabinet.
“That’s a bit of a red flag for me. Now that you’re in government, you need to govern. It’s no longer about playing the opposition role. You are radical, now you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose,” he said.
Rafizi was reported as saying he had informed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim that he was ready to not defend his party post and to leave the Cabinet to focus on grassroots work. He said he conveyed the same views when he met former secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
On Nurul Izzah, both Khairy and Shahril rejected claims that she was merely riding on her father’s name, with Khairy calling her a seasoned MP with a solid policy track record.
“She’s not someone who came out of nowhere. She’s been around and done good work in Parliament,” Khairy said, highlighting her push for wage-related policies to help the poor.
Shahril agreed, saying that Nurul Izzah was not a political clone of Anwar and was one who had different values compared to her father.
‘Make room for both Rafizi and Nurul Izzah’
Khairy and Shahril said PKR should find a way to keep Rafizi and Nurul Izzah in the top ranks, saying it would be a big talent loss if either were to be left out. Beneath the top leadership, they said, there were few talents like the duo in PKR.
The race for the top leadership posts in PKR has picked up pace, with Rafizi confirming that he will defend his deputy president’s post.
Numerous top and divisional leaders have stated their support for Nurul Izzah to contest the post, which Rafizi won in 2022 by defeating Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. She was appointed as a PKR vice-president in 2022 after opting not to contest the central leadership elections that year. - FMT

---