Even if Anwar wins Kajang state seat, Pakatan may not solve all of Selangor’s woes, says Rafizi
(TMI) – There is no guarantee Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will solve all of Selangor’s problems if Datuk Seri Anwar is voted into the state government, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli told a forum in Subang Jaya last night.
Rafizi, who is also the Pandan MP, said this to a question by a member of the audience during a forum on the Kajang by-election which was attended by more than 300 people.
The young man, who identified himself as Nik, asked: “What guarantee is there that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can solve all the issues in Selangor? If he fails, we, the young people, will see it as a tactic (by Pakatan) to lie to the people.”
Rafizi insisted that although it cannot guarantee that all the problems – including rising racial and religious tensions over the “Allah” issue – would be resolved, PR pledged to do things better.
“I cannot guarantee. I cannot pretend to know what will be the outcome. I can only guarantee one thing… that we will do things differently. We will do things better. And we will defend the rights of everyone more vigorously.
“But if you are not satisfied, you can vote us out in 4 years’ time,” he added.
Rafizi was among one of four panellists at last night’s forum at the Empire Hotel in Subang Jaya which was attended by non-governmental organisations and members of the public.
The other panellists were former Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, PAS research institute director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and DAP publicity director and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua. The two-hour event was moderated by Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The forum was held to allow PR explain the circumstances which led to the shock resignation of Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh on January 27 and the subsequent announcement of Anwar’s candidacy for the state seat.
The “Kajang Move” – as it is now known – was highly criticised by members of the public, including PKR supporters and NGOs, including the Coalition for Fair and Free Elections, Bersih 2.0.
Rafizi had earlier said that Anwar’s presence in Selangor was needed to “reinforce the state government” in light of the increasing interfaith friction in the state.
“It will give him political legitimacy to confront Umno-BN politics head-on. We cannot do it in 3 to 4 years’ time as it will be too late. We had to intervene now,” he added.
