What Rafizi said was his own views, says Azmin
Bernama | May 13, 2018
PKR has pledged full support for Mahathir, he adds.
BEST FBKL:
Rafizi and Wong Chen have been whacked by the Rakyat on Social Media for their recent comments related to the cabinet appointments.
Azmin Ali says PKR wants to meet the aspirations of the people who voted for Pakatan Harapan. (Twitter pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s statement that the appointment of senior Cabinet ministers had yet to be concluded and was still under discussion was his personal views, said PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.
He said the party took the same stand as stated by its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who pledged undivided support for the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who now helms the federal government.
“That was Rafizi’s personal views and we have to respect him, but at the end the day we look at the party’s decision and the official decision has been stated by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
“… and I am confident this process (appointing ministers) will be carried out smoothly, and we want it to meet the aspirations of the people,” he told reporters after attending an event by Gombak constituents at Dataran Greenwood today.
Azmin was re-elected as the MP of Gombak in the general election on Wednesday.
Also present were assemblymen Amirudin Shari (Sungai Tua), Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia) and Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang). The three seats come under the Gombak parliamentary constituency.
Yesterday, Rafizi via his official website, Rafiziramli.com had said that PKR deemed that discussions were still ongoing and the announcement by Mahathir on senior ministerial appointments was not conclusive.
Rafizi said this followed the absence of PKR representatives at the meeting and the appointment of three key Cabinet ministers.
Azmin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, said the party would continue to hold talks with Pakatan Harapan leadership on the full list of government Cabinet members.
“Dr Mahathir has announced three Cabinet ministers and the names will be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the next process, God willing, we will come out with a full Cabinet lineup soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azmin said the list of 10 names of state executive councillors had received the consent of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for the swearing-in ceremony at 2pm tomorrow.
“We will see some new faces tomorrow. I believe this is a winning and qualified team to continue to serve the people in Selangor,” he said
FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
KUALA LUMPUR: Teresa Kok has defended the Cabinet choices of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad against an outburst from PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and Wong Chen.
She said the voices of ordinary Malaysians, as shown in the criticisms on social media against the two, was testimony of what the people expect from a new Pakatan Harapan-led government.
Kok, who is DAP deputy secretary-general, said, “I believe the people’s responses on this matter are stronger than my comments”.
She contended that “even Nurul Izzah and Anwar Ibrahim have given their consent”, adding: “I think that says a lot.”
Yesterday, Rafizi, who is PKR vice-president, had said that Dr Mahathir had bulldozed the choice of Lim Guan Eng (DAP) as finance minister; Muhyiddin Yassin (PPBM) as home minister and Mohamad Sabu (Amanah) as defence minister.
Dr Mahathir had said the three positions were the most senior in the Cabinet and, with PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail appointed as deputy prime minister, the four leaders had taken the most important posts.
However Rafizi said PKR had not been present at the meeting of party leaders when the decisions were made. Any decision on appointments must be unanimously agreed to by all four parties, he said. Many had questioned why PKR did not have one of the top three posts.
However his comments raised a storm on social media, with most comments critical of his remarks.
Asked if Rafizi’s comments and those of fellow PKR MP Wong Chen would affect Pakatan unity, she said: “Everyone has the right to their opinions and the right to speak up. We respect that and this is what PH will recognise.”
