Nik Nazmi said Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is challenging Rafizi for the deputy presidency, remains a crucial figure, given her popularity and appeal.
However, he believes that Rafizi should be elected to a second term as Anwar’s deputy.
“Nurul Izzah is popular, she has that youthful appeal and a lot of admirers in terms of her political support. But my point is not that Nurul Izzah cannot be deputy president.
“I also want her to succeed and she deserves a role in the party … but my point is that at this point in time, Rafizi deserves to defend his position,” he said in an interview with selected media.
Nik Nazmi said the contrasting leadership styles of Anwar and Rafizi were a strength rather than a weakness.
He said Anwar had a wealth of extensive experience in government and was also capable of mustering support on the road and bringing different parties together, exemplifying his political tact and finesse.
For Rafizi, “what you see is what you get”, said Nik Nazmi. “He will present stuff, sometimes it may seem a bit direct, you can even describe it as ‘pedas’ (spicy), but this has helped us at the toughest of times.
“They have different styles, but it is exactly that which has given us strength.”
Rafizi and Nurul Izzah are in direct contest for the deputy presidency, which the former won in the 2022 party elections. Nurul Izzah did not contest then. She is currently an appointed party vice-president.
Nik Nazmi is among Rafizi’s running mates in this year’s PKR elections and hopes to defend his vice-presidency in a crowded contest involving 11 other candidates.
This includes the other three incumbents, Amirudin Shari, who has stated support for Nurul Izzah, as well as Aminuddin Harun and Chang Lih Kang, who are in Rafizi’s corner.
Nik Nazmi said that while there was a major contest for PKR’s second-highest post, the focus of the party and delegates should be on the next general election, which must be held in early 2028 at the latest.
“I think that this party election cannot be an end in itself. It is a process to get the best leaders to strengthen the party going into GE16. We want to win and ensure Anwar continues as prime minister for a second term,” said the two-term Setiawangsa MP.