Rafizi, who is contesting for the deputy president’s post in the coming party elections, argued today that party president Anwar Ibrahim needed a deputy who was aggressive and effective in carrying out his duties.
This, he said, included contributing ideas even when those ideas contradicted the president’s stand.
“That is exactly the role a deputy president has to play, not someone who is a yes-man,” he said.
“Carrying out the orders of a president should not be the function of a deputy president. A president should not be the one who has to give all the ideas, does all the campaigning work, or who goes to the ground all the time while the deputy president stays at the back and assures everyone of his loyalty to the president. That is exactly what is happening at the moment.”
He said this when answering a question by political analyst P Sivamurugan at the end of his debate with party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The debate was organised by Sinar Harian.
Sivamurugan, who was one of several analysts invited to pose questions, had asked whether Anwar, at his age, should be replaced or whether he was still relevant.
Rafizi said: “Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the last general election led by the oldest politician in the country for the prime ministerial chair.” He was referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Rafizi went on to say: “Anwar’s age should not come into question, but he needs a deputy who is more aggressive, faster, efficient, agile and creative in campaigning, as well as someone who is younger – especially when we are dealing with a huge portion of the voter base that consists of youths.”
He said a combination of a mature, seasoned president and a younger deputy president who was “agile” would help boost the confidence of voters.
A less political approach needed
Rafizi also suggested that PKR and PH come up with “a less political approach” to lure voters fed up with politics.
He said when it came to campaigning to attract this group of voters, the opposition should abstain from engaging in too much politicking.
Instead, he argued, PKR and PH should speak up on issues that would gain their interest such as improving wages, improving education, going for renewable energy, addressing the cost of living, and battling corruption.
He said the “Ayuh Malaysia” campaign that he launched recently intended to reach out to these voters.
PKR’s election will be taking place from May 13 to May 22.