Slimmer Rafizi Ramli speaks on lifestyle changes and return to politics

KUALA LUMPUR - It was the nagging leg pain that saw PKR's Rafizi Ramli listening to his body and this is when he decided to make a change in his diet and lifestyle.

The pain started at the end of 2018 after his doctor had told him to it had to do with his nerve.

“I don’t do it (lost weight) because I care about how I look, but its for health reasons.

“My break from politics allowed me to do everything I never had the time to do from running, playing sports, and cycling (to lose weight),” he told Sinar Daily.

Now looking slimmer and healthier, after being away for two years from the political, the 44-year old said he wants to contest for a parliamentary seat in 15th General Elections.

“I can’t say for sure whether the public is excited about my return, but I do think they expect me to play a more vocal role after my return,” he said.

Beyond that, however, the former Pandan member of parliament (MP) will take it one day at a time as he insisted that he was happy doing what he is doing now, which is running a data science and tech startup in Kuala Lumpur.

“I have no issue whatsoever of coming back. If I could contribute to ensuring three to four per cent more voter turnout in the coming months leading up to tGE15, I would consider my time well spent.

“However, if you ask me if opposition coalitions should join hands in the fight against Barisan Nasional (BN), my position has been very clear, a big no,” Rafizi said.

Commenting further, he said that such a simplistic approach will not work given how the parties did not work together in the past due to ideological differences.

It would not look good in the public eye should they suddenly cooperate simply because they want to “win Putrajaya”, says Rafizi.