Absence of Rafizi’s camp raises eyebrows
SHAH ALAM: The absence of PKR leaders aligned to party vicepresident Rafizi Ramli camp in the campaign for the Sungai Kandis by-election has not gone unnoticed.
As the campaign only has three days to run, the absence of leaders from Rafizi’s camp is quite obvious.
Questions have arisen as to why these leaders were not involved as part of the PKR’s Sungai Kandis by-election campaign.
Many were not seen at a series of ceramah held last week for the by-election.
In fact, a survey conducted by the New Straits Times Press following the ceramah had found that Rafizi himself had not made an appearance at the by-election campaign despite the involvement of other PKR leaders.
Before this, Rafizi had announced that his faction would contest the upcoming PKR polls.
Among those linked to Rafizi who will contest in the party elections are Permatang Pauh member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar, Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen, Sungai Siput MP S. Kesavan and Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, who is also a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
The other names in his faction likely to join the fray include, Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani and Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Other leaders linked to Rafizi are Ijok state assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad, Subang MP Wong Chen, Hulu Selangor MP June Leow, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Omar, Batu Tiga assemblyman Rodziah Ismail and Merbok MP Nurin Aina.
Of these, only Abdullah and Rodziah were present in Sungai Kandis last week.
Last night, PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kicked off a series of campaigns in the constituency, delivering his inaugural speech in Jalan Kebun, but the names linked with Rafizi’s camp were not seen on the stage.
PKR had been pushing for group ceramah to help Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni’s campaign since last week.
However, PKR leaders who made the campaign rounds were those aligned to PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s camp.
These included Selangor Menteri Besar Amiruddin Shari and PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
Other names linked to the economic affairs minister included Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamaruddin Jaafar, Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman and Kajang state assemblyman Hee Loy Sian.
Among PKR youth leaders linked to Azmin who made campaign rounds were Port Klang assemblyman Azmizam Zaman Huri, Gombak Setia assemblyman Muhammad Hilman Idham and Penang executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin.