After backlash, Wong comes to Rafizi’s defence

PETALING JAYA: Rafizi Ramli’s concerns over Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new Cabinet lineup are warranted as these decisions were made without consulting PKR, says his fellow party vicepresident Wong Chen.

Wong said it was perplexing that PKR had not been offered any Cabinet positions yet, although it is the single largest party in Pakatan Harapan.

The Subang MP pointed out that the party had 48 federal seats while DAP had 42, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia had 13 and Parti Amanah Negara had 11.

“Nothing yet for PKR, the single largest party in Pakatan Harapan? So what did Rafizi do that is wrong in the eyes of the public?

“He is telling the truth that these appointments were made without PKR’s consent,” Wong said in a statement on Facebook yesterday.

Wong’s defence came shortly after Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan tweeted: “PKR, please stop your nonsense.”

The former Bersih 2.0 chairman was referring to a report in a news portal quoting Rafizi as saying that Dr Mahathir had “bulldozed” those appointments through without PKR’s consent.

Earlier yesterday, the Prime Minister and Pakatan chairman announced three of the 10 ministers who were supposed to have been unveiled after the coalition’s presidential council meeting.

He is telling the truth that these appointments were made without PKR’s consent.

Wong Chen

Rafizi, who was criticised on social media, also issued a statement saying he assumed those Cabinet positions were not final.

“Any decision regarding any appointments must be agreed in consensus with all four parties within Pakatan Harapan,” he said in a statement issued in his blog.

According to Wong, Rafizi did not want to see the Pakatanled government by Dr Mahathir start on the wrong footing.

“As such he dared to tegur (chide) Dr Mahathir’s announcement and for this, he is vilified by most of you.

“It is precisely this unhealthy attitude of Malaysians, never (wanting) to question authority ... Rafizi worked tirelessly for two years with Invoke to bring about meaningful change,” he said, referring to Rafizi’s nongovernmental organisation.

“I am proud to be his friend and I will continue to support Rafizi in his quest to create a twoparty system for Malaysia.”