Kajang by-election: ‘Kajang Move’ dynamic has not changed, insists Rafizi

(The Star) – Despite slight narrative changes to the PKR’s ‘Kajang Move’, the overall impact towards the people has not changed, insists the party’s chief strategist Rafizi Ramli.

He said the decision to field PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has not derailed their ambition to take over Putrajaya.

“We still believe whether it is Anwar or now Dr Wan Azizah, the candidate would be able to have a direct input to the state administration,” he told the press at PKR’s operation centre here on Wednesday.

PKR had initiated a strategy, dubbed the ‘Kajang move’, to improve Selangor’s administrative performance including to diffuse religious and racial tension in the state.

Anwar was originally slated to stand in the seat, following the vacancy of its assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh, to fortify Selangor so it can expedite reforms and fend off political attacks and manoeuvres from rivals Umno, according to the party.

The plan had since been derailed after Anwar was disqualified to contest following Friday’s Court of Appeal’s decision to sentence to five years in jail for sodomising his former aide.

But Rafizi insisted that the Kajang move was never meant to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as a Mentri Besar.

“Even back then, Anwar had to play an active role, but we never said he should be the Mentri Besar,” he explained.

He added that having a party president sitting in the state assembly still makes a difference to the state administration.

“Whether or not she (Dr Wan Azizah) occupies a formal administrative position in the state, she will make a difference,” Rafizi said.

Earlier, PKR has launched a four-point manifesto which covers fighting crime and increasing security and safety, easing traffic problems, youth development programmes and small enterprises, and development and city maintenance.

“This is what we promise to the voters if we are given mandate and support from Kajang voters,” said Dr Wan Azizah.

Rafizi said the manifesto was outlined based on their research and feedback from the 40,000-odd Kajang voters.

“The manifesto will be distributed in postcard forms based on demographics and their needs,” he said.