Former PKR central committee member Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid said more than three years had passed since the 2022 general election, meaning that seat vacancies would not automatically trigger a by-election.
The former Kapar MP also accused Rafizi of rambling without basis in linking Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to Pandan for Friday prayers to the purported move.
“I want to tell Rafizi this: look after Pandan. Look after your constituents and don’t poke your nose into the affairs of the prime minister, who is merely going to the ground to meet the people.
“There is no necessity to hold a by-election (if Rafizi’s seat is vacated). You should just wait for the next general election,” said Abdullah in a statement.
In a podcast on Friday, Rafizi claimed that PKR was looking to push for a by-election in Pandan, pointing to multiple calls for him to resign over his criticism of the government and the party.
The former PKR deputy president also claimed that his party was posturing to field former minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz in the purported by-election.
For Rafizi’s seat to be vacated, he would need to either resign as an MP, resign from PKR or join another party, which would trigger the anti-hopping law.
If he is sacked by PKR, the former economy minister will keep his parliamentary seat.
Article 54 of the constitution states that a by-election must be held within 60 days of a seat being vacated, unless it occurs within two years of Parliament being automatically dissolved.
However, it also states that the Dewan Rakyat speaker may write to the Election Commission if the seat vacancy affects the “numerical strength” of the party which makes up the majority in the Dewan Rakyat, in which case a by-election must be held.
Rafizi’s ties with the PKR leadership, including Anwar, turned frosty after he failed to defend the party’s deputy presidency in May last year.
He has hinted at leaving PKR after Parliament is dissolved and defending his Pandan seat, although he dismissed forming a new party or joining a “third force”.