
Rafizi takes Dr Zaliha to task over PKR election irregularities
SERDANG: PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has taken to task the party's election committee, led by Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, for its poor handling of alleged irregularities in the party's internal election process, including at the divisional level.
Rafizi said the committee had failed to address key issues, such as candidates from other parties slipping through and contesting in PKR elections.
"I have long raised this concern within the party. My worry is that when we are in power, people scramble to join because we're too eager to accept new members.
"Some of these individuals are what I call 'Airbnb members'. They join during election season and disappear afterwards.
"I have to call this out. If the committee or Zaliha is unhappy, so be it. This is their responsibility. It is supposed to be an independent body that screens everything," he said during the Yang Bakar Menteri: Yang Berhenti Menteri programme last night.
"When objections are raised, they must respond to each one. Sometimes there are hundreds of objections that go unanswered. When we ask about them, they pretend not to know.
"And only after all the divisional elections are done do they open up for objections. By then, people are already angry," Rafizi, who is also Economy Minister, added.
He also blamed PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh for failing to detect non-members, including those from Umno, who managed to contest for party posts.
"Membership issues fall under Fuziah. Objections related to outsiders contesting are within the secretary-general's jurisdiction. She must act, and so must election committee," he said.
Rafizi added that the PKR election process requires serious reform, especially by the election committee as it is the party's first line of defence.
"Whoever becomes the next election committee chair must realise how heavy the responsibility is. You are the frontline defence of the party.
"When the grassroots file complaints, don't take them lightly. I believe those who lodge objections do so out of love and concern for the party.
"The chair must scrutinise properly and request evidence when there are complaints.If the committee can't handle all of them, at least filter as many as possible.
"If that means adding more members to the committee to handle objections, then do so, otherwise, it's like crying over spilt milk," he said.
He was responding to a participant's question on claims that Umno and Pejuang members had contested and even won posts in PKR's divisional elections.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar hopes Rafizi, Nik Nazmi, reconsider decision to quit Cabinet
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had only approved the leave of two ministers at this time. PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he hopes the two ministers who recently submitted their resignation letters will reconsider their decisions. In a Bernama report, Anwar said while he had received the leave applications and resignation letters from the duo, he had only approved their applications to go on leave. '…Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they remain in the Cabinet,' he said. On May 28, economy minister Rafizi Ramli and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad submitted their resignation letters. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) then issued a statement acknowledging their resignation letters but did not state if their resignations had been accepted. 'Any further decision on the matter will be informed later by the prime minister,' the statement read. Rafizi is on leave until June 16 while Nik Nazmi's leave ends on July 3. Nik Nazmi, a two-term MP, failed to defend his position as PKR vice-president at the party's divisional polls. He was Rafizi's running mate. Rafizi lost the PKR deputy president's post to Nurul Izzah Anwar. Anwar was speaking to reporters after attending an empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders in Melaka today. During the seminar, Anwar, who is also PKR president, called on party members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following its polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity in pursuit of the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this – I can work with Umno, even hugging it out,' he said. 'Surely we can move past our internal disagreements, too. Let's move on to the bigger agenda.'


The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Govt bears almost half a million Ringgit in cost for Tun Mahathir's trip to Nikkei Conference
MELAKA: The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here today. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question - Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan -, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this - I can work with UMNO, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added.


The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Govt bears cost for Tun Mahathir's trip to Nikkei Conference
MELAKA: The government bears almost half a million ringgit in cost for former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's trip to Japan to attend the annual Nikkei conference last month, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said the government allocated approximately RM486,000 for the visit after receiving a formal application from Tun Dr Mahathir. 'There are existing provisions for former prime ministers to apply (for government support for official travel)...and if the sitting prime minister approves, the government will bear the cost, including for Tun Mahathir, who recently requested to attend the Nikkei conference in Japan. He applied, and I approved. I believe the delegation was around seven people. 'I have people asking me why pay for him. He is entitled to apply, but the decision rests with the sitting prime I decided to approve that RM486,000 for him to go to Japan. 'I just don't want anyone to misunderstand...I just don't want to take a negative attitude. Despite his daily criticisms of the government, we still approved his (travel) application,' Anwar told reporters here today. On May 30, Tun Dr Mahathir was reported to have attended and delivered a speech at the annual Nikkei Future of Asia conference, a platform he has regularly attended over the years. On separate development, Anwar said he is giving time to two Cabinet ministers who recently submitted resignation letters, encouraging them to reconsider their decisions. The Prime Minister said he received the letters from the two ministers applying for leave and resignation, but he had only approved the leave for now. '...Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they rejoin the Cabinet,' he said. The ministers in question - Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad - reportedly submitted their resignations following defeats in recent party elections. The Prime Minister was met after attending an organisational empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders here today. Also present were two PKR vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri R. Ramanan -, secretary-general Senator Fuziah Salleh, Wanita chief Fadhlina Sidek, Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim and Hang Tuah Jaya division chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. During the seminar, Anwar called on PKR members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following the party polls last month. He also stressed the need for unity and maturity for the party's greater mission. 'Imagine this - I can work with UMNO, even hugging it out. Surely we can move past our internal disagreements too. Let's move on for the bigger agenda,' he added.