KUALA LUMPUR – PKR’s former deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli says he is ready to step away from politics altogether, hinting he may not contest in the next general election and plans instead to focus on building a social enterprise network.
“I haven’t made a decision yet, but there’s a chance I won’t contest in GE16,” he said in the latest Yang Berhenti Jadi Menteri podcast episode.
“If I can resign as minister, I can sit out of the general elections."
Rafizi, who lost to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the PKR deputy presidency contest, said he is ready to move on and will not contest any party position despite his past contributions to PKR. He also said he has no plans to seek any party post, even if the Registrar of Societies (RoS) were to annul PKR’s recent elections.
“I will move on. I won’t contest for any post in PKR even if the decision is overturned,” he said.
“The culture shown in the last party polls is not something I want to be part of.”
He likened his 27 years in PKR to a relationship that had run its course.
“There were good times and bad. But eventually you realise you’re no longer compatible. It’s better to move on. That shouldn’t erase the good memories.”
Rafizi said he no longer believes he can fix the party’s internal problems.
“Even if I become deputy president again, I don’t want to be bitten a second time. I don’t think I can fix it in the short term. Thank you, I’ll focus on my kedai runcit (referring to his plans to run social enterprises).
“In accounting, people say substance over form. The form is still there, but the substance is no longer what I knew. If I could change it, I would. But I can’t,” he added.
He criticised how complaints about manipulation in the party polls were handled.
“Don’t taichi, don’t point fingers. People raised concerns from the start,” he said.
“This comes from a party election process that felt like a backstabbing. As I said before, the wound is deep. So good luck, Fuziah,” he said, referring to party secretary-general Fuziah Salleh.
Rafizi submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 28, with the resignation taking effect on June 17 following the end of his annual leave. In the May 23 PKR party polls, he lost the deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar in a straight fight, garnering 3,866 votes to her 9,803.
‘I’m not interested in being PM’
Rafizi also dismissed speculations that he could be a future prime minister.
“Those who are busy trying to be prime minister usually don’t become one.
“If I have to change to become a prime minister – to change myself in order to change the nation – then I don’t want it.”
He said he never had strong interest in public office and that his personality was not suited for the role.
“People say I’ve got a sharp tongue, can’t work with others, stubborn.”
Rafizi described his time outside of government as the most productive period of his career, adding that many of his insights into politics were gained while running startups and social initiatives such as Invoke.
“That’s why I’m excited to take a break. A lot of what I’ve learnt came from being an ordinary person managing a startup,” he said.
However, the former economy minister warned of growing defensiveness within the government amid political tension.
“I’m more worried the government won’t be able to push forward its policies because it’s constantly fighting fires – SST, judiciary, all of that,” he said.
He noted that PH supporters and fence-sitters had become critical since the PKR elections.
“I now have the data. It’s not good for the government. I’m not saying it’s causation – but it’s definitely correlated.”
He also raised concerns that such sentiments might impact other unity government allies.
“If I were from BN or GPS, I’d say, ‘We’ve got a problem – you’re no longer delivering your part.’” – July 5, 2025
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