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IN his first public remarks following his defeat in the PKR deputy presidential race, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has offered a candid and reflective message to supporters, saying he feels “a great deal of relief” rather than bitterness after stepping back from frontline politics.
“I have run many election campaigns before. Never in any of them have so many nameless people echoed the messages so loudly, yet the result was so resoundingly beaten,” he wrote in a statement released on Saturday.
“For that, I owe a mountain of gratitude to the average Malaysians who supported my campaign. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much — only Allah can repay your kindness.”
Rafizi, who lost the party’s No. 2 post to Nurul Izzah Anwar at the PKR National Congress 2025 in Johor, said he would not dwell on the outcome. However, he voiced concerns over changes in the party’s electoral system, the integrity of the digital voting process, and the perceived lack of serious effort to address these issues.
He acknowledged the “frustration and disillusionment” among party members and supporters, noting it would take time to shake off the feeling that “many years of dedication to PKR ideals have gone to waste.”
“I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t feel the same, even if only momentarily,” he added.
Reflecting on his 27-year journey within the party, Rafizi recalled his early involvement in the Reformasi movement before PKR’s formation, his tenure as Chief of Staff to now Prime Minster and PKR Presider Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Selangor, and his legal battles—including 16 court cases and a suspended prison sentence under the Official Secrets Act for his role in exposing the 1MDB scandal.
“I have probably spent more time in court than the average lawyer,” he remarked.
Rafizi said he was drawn into politics by a firm belief in democratic competition and the pursuit of a multiracial, progressive Malaysia.
“I joined PKR because of the promise of this ideal. I did not join PKR for public office or ministerial positions — let alone for financial gain,” he wrote on X today.
He acknowledged the centrality of Anwar Ibrahim to PKR’s history but stressed that the party’s mission must outlive any one individual. “Leaders come and go, but the ideal endures,” he said.
Despite the electoral loss, Rafizi reaffirmed his commitment to the reformist cause, noting that society must evolve faster than the government if Malaysia is to become truly inclusive and competitive.
“I have never believed that holding a government position is the only way to achieve our ideals,” he said, adding that he would now spend more time engaging with everyday Malaysians and responding personally to messages of support.
“I have no intention of giving up on the idealistic belief that Malaysia deserves better — a belief that inadvertently drew me into activism and politics in the first place.”
Concluding his message with humility and hope, Rafizi said, “To those who feel disappointed, all I can say is: we must trust the process. Allah knows best what is good for us.”
His message, dated 24 May 2025, comes amid a changing leadership landscape within PKR, following significant shifts at the party’s national congress. - May 24, 2025
