Rafizi: Azmin is no villain but a much ‘misunderstood’ man
Alyaa Alhadjri, The Ant Daily
To many people, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is the villain in the unfolding political drama surrounding the “Kajang Move”. But PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli begs to differ, saying Azmin is more a victim of being “misunderstood” by the media and public.
In this regard, Rafizi even likened Azmin to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who he claimed had also been misunderstood by people.
Rafizi said this when asked on the possibility of Azmin turning against his mentor Anwar by challenging him for the PKR presidency.
Anwar has said that he would be vying for the top post in PKR’s elections expected to be held in May.
“I think Anwar Ibrahim as a person is pretty much different than how he is described.
“People described him (Anwar) as being power crazy and so on (when he is not). (And) Azmin has been even more misrepresented,” Rafizi told theantdaily in a recent interview.
Rafizi said it was unfortunate that Azmin had been labelled as an “Umno-guy” for his style of doing things as he was part of the original team responsible for introducing reformation for “alternative politics” in Malaysia.
“So I have always pitied him. If anything, Min (Azmin) suffered from the inability to catch up with times,” Rafizi said, pointing out that Azmin was trained as a government administrative and diplomatic officer (PTD) who subscribed to protocol and procedures in dealing with issues.
“I think that is another reason for people to lampoon him (Azmin) as an ‘Umno guy’ because perhaps he does not make too strong a position on anything,” the Pandan MP said.
Rafizi explained that his understanding of Azmin’s background had resulted in the two remaining as close friends, despite their many disagreements on political issues.
“So perhaps, sometimes, (this is why) he (Azmin) doesn’t sound as honest as people want him to be,” he said in acknowledging that the public now judges politicians based on their views instead of just party positions.
Rafizi, who described Azmin as a perfectionist, also attributed the trait as the Gombak MP’s weakness and said it was unfair for the public to judge him based on a perceived “image problem”.
While it is an open secret that the infighting within Selangor PKR is largely due to irreconcilable differences between Azmin and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Rafizi said he could understand Azmin’s predicament after being bypassed twice for the MB’s position in 2008 and 2013.
“If you were in his (Azmin) shoes you would (also) ask: What else do you want me to do? I fought, I stayed loyal, I abide to everyone and yet I am still the bad guy,” Rafizi said, stressing that Azmin is “not less capable” of becoming Selangor MB than any other PKR assemblyman in the state.
