Suspension Will Not Silence Us We Serve The People Says Rafizi

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PKR MP Rafizi Ramli has vowed that efforts to voice out for the rakyat’s betterment will continue, even if he and eight other lawmakers are suspended from the party for their outspokenness.
The former PKR deputy president stressed that a suspension against the relevant MPs would not solve any problems perceived by the party.
Instead, he argued that such disciplinary action against party members would merely tarnish PKR’s image, particularly since the party previously had to fend off “much harsher” criticism from other members.
“Suspending us doesn’t solve any problem because we are paid by the rakyat to speak up for them, and we will continue to speak up,” Rafizi said in a social media post today.
“Suspending us will give the impression that there is no space for democracy within PKR, especially when there are lawmakers like (Pasir Gudang MP) Hassan Karim who had criticised the prime minister even more harshly before, yet no action was taken against them.”
In November last year, Hassan was referred to the PKR disciplinary board over his public criticisms of the government, including Putrajaya’s move to award the rollout of the second 5G network to U Mobile Sdn Bhd.
However, the party’s central leadership council had later decided not to take any action against Hassan, who frequently highlights issues of governance, transparency, and the rakyat’s welfare.
‘Vote of no confidence’
Rafizi’s statement today came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held a special briefing session with Pakatan Harapan MPs on July 14.
The Pandan MP, however, had opted to sit out of the meeting.
According to an internal memo signed off by PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh and dated July 16, the meeting featured Anwar’s “reminder and feedback” that any concerns should first be discussed with him before issuing public statements.
Emphasising the importance of internal checks and balances measures prior to a matter being brought to the public sphere, Fuziah also said the actions of certain MPs from the party have been interpreted as a “vote of no confidence” against Anwar.
“(The actions) should be taken seriously as a matter of discipline and leadership ethics… I urge all PKR MPs to take this reminder seriously and to adopt them as principles of organisational discipline,” Fuziah said in the memo addressed to PKR lawmakers and sighted by Malaysiakini.
‘Not built by silencing voices’
However, in apparent contrast to the memo’s message, Rafizi advised the party’s newly elected branch leaders that “PKR was not built by silencing voices”.
He highlighted that PKR has always been a party which allows anyone - regardless of their position in the party - to raise issues affecting the rakyat, with such principles allowing it to gain a name among voters.
“We were popular with the rakyat because we were the fastest and loudest to speak up on rakyat issues.
“That is what we, the old guard, have practised until PKR managed to form the government, opening up opportunities for new leaders, like these division chiefs, to rise to positions of influence and office,” he added.
Avoid internal sabotage
Previously, 19 PKR division chiefs from Johor and 11 from Kedah had called for Rafizi and the eight other lawmakers to be suspended from the party for allegedly breaching party discipline.
They alleged the group had violated the PKR members’ code of ethics under Articles 10.1 and 10.2 of the party constitution, specifically, the obligation to uphold the party’s reputation, adhere to its decisions, and avoid acts of internal sabotage.
This came after Rafizi and the eight MPs urged the formation of a royal commission of inquiry and for the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on institutional reforms to investigate alleged judicial interference.
Rafizi had previously taken his critics to task, questioning whether they would issue similar calls for PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar to be suspended after she attended the Malaysian Bar’s march for judicial independence.- Mkini

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