“Personally, I feel that we also need to be pragmatic while being realistic. Victory will not come just like that, but neither will defeat.

“Whether we win or lose, that will depend on our planning, work and endeavour,” he told FMT, in response to PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli saying PH needed to be realistic about its chances in GE15.

Rafizi had said it would be better for PKR and PH to settle for remaining in the opposition “with dignity” than to trumpet their optimism about winning the elections.

But Fahmi, the PKR communications director, dismissed this view, stating that he personally believed PH was capable of taking over Putrajaya, while reiterating that this depended on the coalition’s strategy moving forward.

PH lost heavily in the last three state elections, as Barisan Nasional stormed to landslide victories in Melaka and Johor, while Gabungan Parti Sarawak tightened its grip on the Sarawak state government.

Rafizi, who stepped out of active politics in December 2019 to concentrate on his start-up business, will be vying for the PKR deputy president’s post for the second time next month. In 2018, he lost to Azmin Ali for the post but was appointed vice-president.

The former Pandan MP will be going head-to-head with PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to serve as deputy to Anwar Ibrahim, who retained the presidency uncontested.