Rafizi Ramli has stressed that his decision to contest for the post of PKR deputy president has nothing to do with safeguarding his personal interests, but to ensure that president-elect Anwar Ibrahim is appointed the eighth prime minister of Malaysia.

Rafizi admitted that some people felt uncomfortable with the succession plan, and have taken to criticising him for his decision to contest.

“Various attempts have been made (to prevent Anwar from becoming prime minister), such as denouncing and declaring that Anwar is too impatient, greedy and he does not need to assume the post as his time has already passed, and so on.

“We have to accept the fact that if the party is not ready and contains these differing views, surely there are some quarters who feel uncomfortable with Anwar as the eighth prime minister,” he said at the 20 Years of Reform Movement Debate programme in Ipoh last night.

The programme was attended by several Reformasi movement leaders and 500 party supporters from various branches throughout the state.

Rafizi also said his move to contest for the post was also aimed at curbing clashes and disunity in the party since Anwar was sent to prison in 2015.

“There is a huge difference of opinion in PKR... it can be felt, and party members did say that the party is breaking up, fighting for power. All this is a continuation from the time when Anwar was sent to jail in 2015,” he said.

Rafizi said there were two factions in PKR – one group involving him, while the other one is led by PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He claimed the vision brought by his group aimed at a total reform, while Azmin's group was previously focused was more on maintaining political power in Selangor.

- Bernama