When PKR's slow self-destruction and Rafizi's return as rebel is everyone's problem

Sinar Daily

11-07-2025

IF any nation were to mirror the recent political upheaval in Thailand, Malaysia would undoubtedly be a strong contender for such a scenario.
Thailand's latest political imbroglio saw Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's tenure abruptly halted, echoing past family scandals and leading to a rapid succession of three changes in leadership within mere days, following a decisive court rulling.
This quick transition of power inevitably brings to mind Malaysia's own tumultuous "Sheraton Move," an event that dissolved the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and installed Perikatan Nasional (PN), ultimately ushering in three different prime ministers over a period of just five years.
Now, Malaysia's long-aspired Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim faces a significant challenge that could potentially lead to his removal, ironically from within the very ranks of his own party, PKR. Is "reformasi" dream faltering amidst a renewed quest for power within ruling ranks?
A faction of nine PKR MPs, spearheaded by none other than former Minister and PKR Deputy President Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, publicly advocated for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate judicial appointments.
While PKR veteran MP Hassan Abdul Karim acknowledged the legitimacy and public interest of the judicial concerns raised, describing them as "the elephant in the room," he couldn't help but ponder the profound implications of such a demand on the current government's stability.
Hassan suggested that while these actions might be progressive, radical and popular with the public, a critical question remained: Are these nine MPs truly prepared for the possibility that their actions could bring down Anwar's administration?
If so, he argued, it would unequivocally signal a clear revolt taking place within PKR.
Frankly, the country seems to be experiencing a growing fatigue with PKR as a political entity and the internal discord it often generates when in power.
While Umno experienced a monumental downfall after 61 years of uninterrupted rule, PKR, it seems, consistently struggles to effectively wield power.
One only needs to recall past internal tragedies while they were in government, from alleged sex tape scandals to the high-profile defection of Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and his gang to Bersatu.
Now, we witness a similar pattern with Rafizi, once lauded as a staunch party loyalist and policy visionary.
However, after losing his position as PKR deputy president in the most recent party polls to the party president's daughter Nurul Izzah, he immediately resigned from his Cabinet post, despite no public request for him to do so.
Soon after, he launched a podcast titled "Yang Bakar Menteri," which has, thus far, functioned less as a constructive policy critique and more as a direct attack aimed squarely at the government he once served.
Now, just over a month after stepping away from that administration, Rafizi is leading a petition for an RCI, a move that will inevitably cause embarrassment or, at the very least, create the perception that the government's hands are not entirely clean on judicial matters.
It's a damning turn for someone who not long ago had every opportunity to address these same concerns from within the system but chose silence.
The timing, context and tone of this new campaign raise uncomfortable but necessary questions: Why now? And why this specific issue?
It becomes difficult to ignore a discernible pattern. Rafizi and the MPs aligned with him were largely silent on matters of judicial independence and reform when they held institutional power and were politically ascendant.
Yet, now, following a loss of internal party clout, their battle cry for reform has grown undeniably louder and more confrontational.
Is this sudden moral urgency genuine, or is it merely the language of a faction unwilling to accept political defeat?
And if, hypothetically, PMX's government were to fall, do Malaysians genuinely desire a sudden return of PN to power?
Do they want another former bank CEO as Finance Minister, or another reshuffling of the Senior Ministers lineup?
Voters cast their ballots hoping for a stable administration, consistent policy direction, the ability to maintain investor confidence and a promise of long-term prosperity.
While PMX is indeed announcing and embarking on duties to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), these efforts have, for some, become the subject of jokes or memes online, with netizens questioning the tangible impact.
If there is a desire to prevent the government from being toppled, then actions must align with previous promises.
The pace of progress under Anwar's Unity Government is perceived by many as very slow, perhaps too slow, tiring, exhausting and stagnant.
It is not to say that PN offers a better alternative, but Malaysia has reached a point where it contends with a seemingly hopeless Opposition, with the current Prime Minister seemingly capitalising on this weakness.
Imagine the gravity of falling from grace even with such a weak Opposition.
This is not a place for me to issue a call to "buck up," as the Anwar-led Unity Government has already been in power for the past two years.
However, as my father once wisely stated, "Look at what Anwar and his friends preached, and look at what he is doing now."
Two years into his tenure as Prime Minister, the political realities of governance have visibly begun to erode his once-revered 'Reformasi' brand and on top of that, PKR itself appears to have lost its core identity, in dire need of a new purpose.
There is a vast amount of work that needs to be done, yet recent discussions have centered on issues like Nurul Izzah Anwar's contested appointment, a topic that does not put food on anyone's table.
Every single Malaysian desires the year to end in peace, stability and with food on their tables.
Is it so difficult to ask for this from our leaders who once vehemently claimed they could right the wrongs committed by Barisan Nasional?
Your guess is as good as mine.