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PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Deputy President contender Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has expressed his willingness to engage in an open debate with fellow candidate and current party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, saying such a platform could help ease rising tensions among their supporters.
Speaking during the ‘Jelajah Hidupkan Idealisme Reformasi Dalam Ujian Kuasa (HIRUK)’ programme in Pahang on Wednesday, Rafizi said he saw no issue in debating his long-time party colleague, provided the session is conducted by a neutral organiser.
“I’ve debated KJ (Khairy Jamaluddin), I’ve debated the MP for Bachok (Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman)——so I’ve handled the tough ones before. Insya-Allah, I have no problem debating Nurul Izzah,” he said.
“But let it be organised by an impartial party so the atmosphere can be calmed. Sometimes in our party, the leaders are fine—it’s the supporters on the ground who are more aggressive than the leadership, fighting every day,” he added.
Rafizi suggested a public forum would be the most constructive approach.
“I think it’s better to proceed with the debate openly. I’ll present my ideas, she’ll present hers, and in the end, let the party members and the public evaluate and decide,” he said.
The idea of a debate was earlier floated by Prasanth Kumar Brakasam, Deputy Chief of PKR’s Youth Wing, Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK). He proposed the forum as a way for both young leaders to present their vision, proposals, and strategies to strengthen the Unity Government, the Pakatan Harapan coalition, and PKR itself.
Nurul Izzah: A Mandate for Victory and Unity in GE16
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah Anwar reaffirmed her commitment to leading PKR to victory in the upcoming 16th General Election (GE16) should she be elected Deputy President for the 2025–2028 term.
Speaking at a grassroots engagement programme in Selangor on Tuesday night, she highlighted the need to solidify cooperation with coalition partners within Pakatan Harapan and to regain public trust through the empowerment of women and youth.
“Give me the chance. I want to instil love and care among us—even if we come from different races, religions, and factions. We must rise above ego, anger, and resentment. That is the key to whether we can continue to thrive, not just for a year or two, but for the next 100 years,” she said.
Also in attendance at the event were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is contesting for a vice-presidency, and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, PKR’s Information Chief and also a candidate for vice-president.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Nurul Izzah said her campaign would prioritise high-impact programmes and meaningful engagement with party delegates—particularly women and youth—while striving to maintain a calm and constructive tone throughout the leadership contest. - May 15, 2025