KUALA LUMPUR – PKR deputy president candidate Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has strongly rejected claims that he prepared a resignation letter or vacated his office amid the party’s tense leadership contest.
His rival, Nurul Izzah Anwar, said in yesterday’s party meeting that she decided to contest the deputy president post after hearing of his absence and talks of a resignation letter.
“When I received word that Rafizi had taken leave and vacated his office, I was still in India attending an international conference. The party leadership was also informed of a resignation letter that had been prepared,” she said.
Rafizi today categorically denied these allegations, insisting he had never drafted a resignation letter, but only submitted a formal leave of absence to engage with grassroots members dissatisfied with the party’s election process.
“I want to state clearly that I never drafted a resignation letter, nor did I say I would not contest,” he said.
“The letter I sent to the president (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) was only to request leave. There was no question of resignation or not contesting.”
In a statement, he detailed his timeline of events to clarify the situation.
Following the party president’s advice on February 28 for him not to contest the deputy president post, and the subsequent encouragement on April 8 to remain in the race, Rafizi encountered irregularities during the branch-level elections in mid-April.
This led him to meet Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on April 21, where they discussed attempts to remove him from the contest. Rafizi offered to step down if it would quell internal unrest, but was not asked to resign.
On April 22, Rafizi said he met Anwar again to express his position, but was met with disagreement. The special Central Leadership Council convened on April 23 but failed to resolve complaints.
It was only after these developments that Rafizi, who is also the economy minister, took leave on April 24 to consult grassroots members displeased with the electoral issues.
The party president then called for a meeting on April 28, held on April 30, where Rafizi reaffirmed his commitment to contest and stated any deputy president must be capable of representing the party in the cabinet.
Despite this, Rafizi said statements appeared from early May undermining his position and favouring Nurul Izzah, who is the party president and prime minister’s daughter.
Rafizi confirmed his candidacy on May 7, with Nurul Izzah filing her nomination on May 7 despite being aware he was contesting.
Refuting Nurul Izzah’s claim that he vacated his office, Rafizi said, “I have not packed up my office. My office remains cluttered with files.”
Supporting this, Najib Bakar, Rafizi’s former special officer, posted a statement and photos clarifying the situation, saying that the office was cleaned for an Aidilfitri celebration.
“Did the economy minister’s office get vacated? Here’s what really happened,” Najib posted on social media today.
“On April 27, 2025, there were indeed several Special Branch officers entering the ministry, apparently to verify rumours that Rafizi had cleared out his office.”
“I don’t know what rumours they were chasing – maybe from some ‘unnamed source’,” he wrote, pointedly.
Najib said the office had been cleaned and tidied in preparation for an Aidilfitri event scheduled for April 28.
“Yes, the office was cleaned, but it was for the ministry’s Raya gathering, not a resignation,” he said, attaching photos from the event.
After four days of leave spent engaging with grassroots members, Rafizi resumed his ministerial duties as usual.
Addressing Nurul Izzah’s concerns about a leadership vacuum, Rafizi noted that if there was genuine worry.
“Saifuddin could have contested deputy president. Easier still, Nurul Izzah could have contacted me to confirm, as she often did in 2021 and 2022, persuading me to return to active preparation for the general election.”
Rafizi also revealed that in their most recent meeting on May 20, Nurul Izzah sought his support after the election, suggesting a possible position for him, to which he replied he respected the democratic outcome but was “not interested.”
He accused certain party factions of prioritising “money and positions,” running contrary to PKR’s reformist principles. Rafizi alleged these groups branded him as egoistic and conspired to oust candidates like him, while Nurul Izzah, despite voicing concern over such groups, appeared aligned with them to secure victory.
This exchange comes at a critical juncture for PKR as delegates vote for the deputy president today.
Nurul Izzah frames her campaign as a return to “first principles” focused on grassroots needs, while Rafizi vows to “do the best in this first test of power.” – May 23, 2025