Rafizi, Saifuddin at odds as both jostle for PKR number 2 post

SHAH ALAM - Two PKR rivals are at odds with one another as the party leaders jostle for position during party elections in May.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli told his rival for the party's deputy president post, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution of his sacrifices when Saifuddin was "jobless" after the 2013 general elections.

Rafizi was quoted as saying in FMT that he persuaded Saifuddin to return to politics after losing the Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat to an Umno candidate. Saifuddin won the seat in the 2018 polls.

Rafizi further said he also made way for Saifuddin for the party secretary-general post.

The statements come after Saifuddin had said his rival was absent from the party when he was needed the most.

However, Rafizi told Saifuddin not to make personal remarks. He further claimed that he was assisted in Saifuddin being given a position in Penang as he came up with a working paper to appoint Saifuddin as the then Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng's strategic adviser in 2017.

Rafizi said Saifuddin had left the country to work in Indonesia. In 2016, Rafizi resigned from PKR's secretary-general post which Saifuddin took over.

“So why make me the target of your failures?”," Rafizi further said.

However, Rafizi said he considers Saifuddin as a good friend and is not offended by the statement made by Saifuddin made.

Saifuddin dismisses claims by Rafizi

However, Saifuddin in a statement said unlike him Rafizi does not have a good relationship with Lim and "let alone proposing my name as the state government's adviser.

The position for the post was more for strategic reasons, Saifuddin further added.

He further said it was Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was heading PKR then, to appoint him as the party secretary-general as Rafizi was facing court cases linked to National Feedlot Corp.

The PKR internal election is scheduled to take place on May 13 to 18.