JOHOR BARU, May 24 — Former PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail grew emotional and teary-eyed as he recalled a moment shared with Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli following the announcement of the party’s central leadership council results last night.
“I embraced and apologised to Rafizi yesterday while crying. I personally admit that I am afraid of losing Rafizi from this party,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution, who is also the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief secretariat, said he was speaking from the heart about Rafizi during his winding-up speech at PKR’s National Congress at the Persada International Convention Centre here today.
Also present at the national congress today were party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR advisory council chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Saifuddin Nasution shared that even in the past, Rafizi had showed talent and potential. He said that his relationship with Rafizi was not new and had spanned many years, even when he was with Umno.
“When I was the then deputy Umno Youth chief, Rafizi was returning to Malaysia after studying in London for the past 10 years.
“I welcomed Rafizi in Johor Baru when he returned to Malaysia and we had a meaningful discussion on his future direction.
“At one time, I even appointed him as a speechwriter when he was in Selangor, but now I am afraid of losing him as a leader,” he said.
Rafizi has been engaged in a hard-hitting campaign for the party’s deputy president’s post, which saw factional fighting growing within PKR.
He was in a straight contest with Nurul Izzah as his rival. However, the 47-year-old political strategist lost to Nurul Izzah by a wide margin in yesterday’s party election.
Despite the notion that others have, Saifuddin Nasution said he agreed with Rafizi on many things, but there were also issues that he did not agree with.
“During the election campaign, Rafizi said that he could not accept it if Anwar as party president gave in to new members who continued to rise, despite only being in the party for a short period of time,” he said, in reference to Rafizi’s criticism of Anwar’s failure to reward loyal and long-serving party members.
On Rafizi’s and Nurul Izzah Anwar’s election for the deputy president post, Saifuddin Nasution said the entire campaign was heated and chaotic.
As such, he personally met both to understand the situation better.
“I later met with Anwar and told him that we have to take care of good political talents like Rafizi, despite his differences,” he said.
