PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has hit back at Nurul Izzah Anwar after the latter claimed she decided to contest for his post over fears he might not defend the position, leading to a potential leadership vacuum.
Rafizi said that if Nurul Izzah really was concerned that no one would take up the post of PKR deputy president, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail could have been asked to throw his hat into the ring.
“Or Nurul Izzah could have just contacted me to confirm (whether I was not defending the post), just like how she often contacted me in 2021 and 2022 to convince me to be active in politics again,” he said in a statement.
The Pandan MP maintained that he had never drafted a letter of resignation as economy minister or stated that he was not planning to defend the PKR No 2 post.
“Nurul Izzah’s claim that she entered the contest for the PKR deputy presidency to save the party from a leadership vacuum is untrue.
“I had already announced beforehand that I would be defending my post, as requested by the party president (Anwar Ibrahim) himself.”
He also denied ever clearing his office in Putrajaya, saying it remained a mess to this day with “files all over the place”. Rafizi added that he resumed his duties as minister after going on leave for just four days.
Yesterday, Nurul Izzah said she received news earlier this month that Rafizi had taken a leave of absence as economy minister and also cleared out his office in Putrajaya.
The appointed party vice-president said the PKR leadership were also informed that Rafizi had prepared a letter of resignation from his Cabinet post.
She said this sparked concerns that Rafizi may decide not to defend his PKR deputy president’s post, which meant a potential leadership vacuum, prompting various leaders to urge her to contest for the position.
Nurul Izzah claimed that Rafizi announced his candidacy on the final day of nominations and, that too, only after she had registered herself for the post.
Today, Rafizi said Anwar himself had repeatedly asked him to defend the deputy president’s post and had even “advised” that there should be no contests for the position in recent months.
He pointed out that he had released a press statement on May 7 to confirm that he would be defending the post and welcomed challengers. This was a day after various PKR leaders, including several of Anwar’s political aides, declared support for Nurul Izzah.
Rafizi added that Nurul Izzah registered herself as a candidate although she already knew he would be defending the post.
