Rafizi’s sec-gen post under threat as PKR leaders divided over PAS

A faction in PKR wants Rafizi Ramli removed as secretary-general, following friction in the party over the formation of new opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, a source from the party leadership said. It said the Pandan MP's fate will be determined by the party's leadership council at a special meeting this Sunday, called after a petition was submitted by 25 council members. "The party leadership received a message that read 'I want blood' to settle the crisis," a senior PKR leader who requested anonymity told The Malaysian Insider. It is believed the message was sent by those who opposed the setting up of Pakatan Harapan without PAS, to pressure party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The faction is also said to be seeking the council’s approval for their proposal to set up a coalition with PAS, while maintaining Pakatan Harapan. "If the party leadership council says yes, then it means PKR will not contest against PAS in the general election. But PAS will be free to contest in any seat against DAP and Amanah, PKR's allies in Pakatan Harapan," the source said. The arrangement is in contrast to the proposal by Amanah that Pakatan Harapan and PAS cooperate in the election, which would bind PAS from contesting Pakatan Harapan seats. The petition by the 25 PKR leadership council members demanded a special meeting after Dr Wan Azizah announced the new coalition following a roundtable meeting with other opposition parties except PAS, which chose to stay out. But according to the source, at least seven of the 25, who signed the petition, had contacted Dr Wan Azizah to apologise. Sunday’s meeting could see a clash between the supporters of Rafizi and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, while the strength of the support for Dr Wan Azizah in the council will also be tested. Those who want PAS in the picture were unhappy with Dr Wan Azizah's announcement and wanted a meeting to be called immediately. Their demand for a meeting, made via a petition by 25 out of over 50 council members, is seen as a vote of no confidence against Dr Wan Azizah. However, their petition did not state clearly their demands, which the source said would be made at the meeting. However, political observer Professor Datuk Redzuan Othman said he did not think there would be any sort of clash at the meeting. "It is only a normal discussion to seek clarification on why the Pakatan Harapan pact was announced in such haste without being brought up with the party first," Redzuan said. He agreed there was talk about removing Rafizi as secretary-general and replacing him with Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar, the PAS MP who switched to PKR recently. "I think they are unhappy with the way Rafizi manages the party," said Redzuan, who is deputy chairman of Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE), a body under the Selangor government led by Azmin as menteri besar. – October 9, 2015.