Rafizi no-show at PKR National Congress final day after defeat
As of 10.17am, the Pandan member of Parliament and Economy Minister had yet to make an appearance, sparking widespread speculation among delegates who were eagerly awaiting his presence at the congress hall.
Rafizi had been a central figure throughout the campaign, vocally using the platform of the "Reviving Reformist Ideals Amid Power Challenges" (Hiruk) tour to openly criticise the party's system and leadership, including his rivals contesting the election.
He had also publicly declared his readiness to relinquish his Cabinet position should he fail to secure the deputy president post in the PKR party elections.
The 2025 PKR National Congress saw significant changes in the party's top leadership lineup, including the defeat of several incumbents.
The most attention-grabbing contest was for the deputy president position, where Nurul Izzah Anwar defeated the incumbent Rafizi Ramli.
The official results for the Central Leadership Council (MPP) 2025-2028, including the deputy president post, were announced by Central Election Committee Chairperson Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa around 10.30pm last night, following the opening speech of the Congress by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Nurul Izzah, former Permatang Pauh MP, garnered 9,803 votes, defeating Rafizi, who secured 3,866 votes.
When approached by the media after the announcement, Rafizi declined to comment further, simply stating, "It's okay, you should ask the (new) deputy president."
He appeared displeased when asked if he accepted the result of losing to the 'Puteri Reformasi,' Nurul Izzah.
This morning, the PKR National Congress 2024/2025 continued with the debate session on the President's policy speech.
Earlier, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the congress venue at 8.40am accompanied by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the party's Advisory Council Chairperson.
Nurul Izzah arrived at approximately 8.20am alongside other top party leaders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Breaches in intelligence agencies spell disaster
KUALA LUMPUR: Any compromise on breaches within intelligence agencies would spell disaster for the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today. He said the government would neither tolerate nor compromise on infiltration or misconduct within national security agencies, stressing that such issues must not be politicised. "This is a matter of national security. "It is not about party politics or government versus opposition. "If smuggling has entered an intelligence agency, that is a huge matter. "If there is a cartel profiting by selling secrets, this is a major threat to the nation. "We will not hide behind excuses, because once we start compromising on breaches within our intelligence agencies, it spells disaster for the nation," he told the Dewan Rakyat today. Commenting on the arrest of five senior military officers , including two from the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation, Anwar said he had directed the armed forces chief and the director of the intelligence division to provide him with initial reports. Investigations, he said, indicated that the cases dated back to 2020 but were only surfacing now as the current government had given the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) full independence to act. He said in the past, old cases were left unresolved, allowing some individuals to amass billions. Now, the authorities are thoroughly reviewing these cases, and if there is evidence, prosecution will follow. "But if there are major cases, do not defend them. This is not about sympathy or revenge. What revenge? This is no light issue. "I have instructed the armed forces chief to conduct the investigations seriously, and the defence minister is taking this matter seriously. "It was even raised again yesterday with His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. "We will uncover everything. This is a matter of national security, which cannot be compromised," he said. On why such cases were only exposed now, Anwar said the question should be directed at past leaders. He urged against politicising the matter, stressing that action would be taken regardless of who was implicated. "If there is evidence against anyone, whether it involves the son of the Pandan member of parliament (Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli) or the Zara Qairina Mahathir case highlighted by the Home Ministry, do not use it as a political weapon. "If any MPs have additional information, provide it. I have no issue. If the defence minister has details and wishes to present an initial report, please do so.
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Highly risky' to sacrifice Ampang MP for Tengku Zafrul, say analysts
Rodziah Ismail became Ampang MP in 2022 and was a three-term Selangor state assembly member, while Tengku Zafrul Aziz is a senator whose term expires in December. PETALING JAYA : It would be a highly risky move for PKR to drop Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail at the next general election to make way for the party's latest member, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, say two political analysts. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Rodziah's chances of being fielded again were very slim given that she had twice been defeated in her bid to lead Wanita PKR, and for being seen to be in the camp of former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli. However, he said fielding Tengku Zafrul for the Ampang seat in place of Rodziah was very risky given that he was practically an outsider, both in the party and the parliamentary constituency. He said Rodziah's victory in Ampang at the 2022 general election was because she has her own grassroots support in the area. 'So to put Tengku Zafrul there instead will be a very, very big gamble just as when he was in Kota Raja Umno – Tengku Zafrul has no grassroots support,' Azmi told FMT. 'He did not gain the respect of Umno members and I think it will be the same (in PKR); grassroots support is very important in Ampang.' Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said it would be unwise to take the risk of supplanting Rodziah for Tengku Zafrul if Rodziah was proven to have served the people of Ampang well. Fauzi said Tengku Zafrul would lack the opportunity and time to build the connections and networks with Ampang folk before the next general election (GE16), while Rodziah had already established herself. He also described Tengku Zafrul as a 'political unknown' despite being in Umno since 1997, and who gained prominence only when selected to be finance minister in Muhyiddin Yassin's Cabinet in 2020. 'What does that tell you about his interest in politics? It was sparked by an opportunity to be in the Cabinet, not by a genuine concern for the hardships of the downtrodden,' Fauzi said. 'Given that he made his career in the banking industry as a high-powered executive at a relatively young age, it will definitely take some time before he matures into a politician who could genuinely identify with the people he represents.' In the 2022 general election, Rodziah was moved from the Batu Tiga state seat in Shah Alam to reclaim Ampang from Zuraida Kamaruddin, who won it with PKR before joining Bersatu and later Parti Bangsa Malaysia. In February, political sources told FMT that Tengku Zafrul was expected to contest a Selangor seat at the next general election, with Ampang being his top choice, and Petaling Jaya and Pandan as other possibilities. Earlier this month, PKR confirmed that Tengku Zafrul had joined the party as a member in the Ampang division following his resignation from Umno. Rodziah then said she was ready to make way for another PKR candidate in Ampang at GE16, but expressed hope that she would be able to see out her current term. Azmi said he did not expect PKR to try to force a by-election so that Tengku Zafrul, a senator whose term expires in December, can get a parliamentary seat and remain a minister. 'It would be difficult to force a by-election because Rodziah definitely will not give way voluntarily.' Fauzi meanwhile saw such speculation as possibly testing the ground in Ampang, to gauge whether or not it would be a good idea to field Tengku Zafrul in place of Rodziah. 'We still have about two years to go before GE16, so there should be ample time for party strategists to assess the mood on the ground.' Don't drop Rodziah entirely Fauzi said PKR should not drop Rodziah from its list of GE16 candidates entirely but consider fielding her in another winnable seat, having served as an elected representative since 2008 and developed a grassroots following of her own. He said Rodziah, a former Selangor executive councillor, has won her elections with majorities of more than 3,000 votes each time. Rodziah served three terms as Selangor assembly member for Batu Tiga from 2008 to 2023 and was elected as MP for Ampang in 2022. 'Given that she's 61 this year, she has a good four to five years ahead of her, given the shelf life of Malaysian politicians,' he said, adding that her being aligned with Rafizi only boosts her credibility. 'Being a female politician with a strong character, her presence within the upper echelon of PKR women's section only adds vigour to the party's leadership profile, her siding with Rafizi's camp notwithstanding.' However, Azmi disagreed. He said Rodziah had become like a 'thorn in PKR's side' like Rafizi and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and it would not be surprising if she was dropped at the next general election.
Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
Hassan welcomes new 12-party coalition, says good for democracy
A senior PKR lawmaker has welcomed the formation of a new 12-party opposition loose coalition, while cautioning that the government bloc faces internal weaknesses. Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement earlier today marked a 'positive development' for Malaysian democracy as the country heads towards the 16th general election, expected within two to three years.
