By all appearances, the People's Justice Party (PKR) is united under the banner of reform, democratic governance, and social justice. However, beneath the surface, a growing ideological and political divergence is threatening to fracture the party's top leadership. At the heart of this rift is the quiet but intensifying cold war between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his one-time protégé and former PKR Deputy President, Rafizi Ramli.
To many political observers, this
cold war bears an uncanny resemblance to the historical fallout between Anwar
and his former political mentor, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, in 1998. Then, Anwar
was the rising reformist star within UMNO, riding high on a wave of public
support and international admiration.
His bold, progressive ideas and
calls for economic transparency clashed with Mahathir’s entrenched autocratic
style. The conflict culminated in Anwar’s dramatic ouster, galvanizing the
Reformasi movement and birthing the very party he now leads.
Fast forward to today, and one
wonders if history is about to repeat itself with Anwar now playing the role of
the establishment figure, and Rafizi positioned as the disruptive reformer
pushing against the status quo.
The Rafizi Factor: Strategist
and Reformist
Rafizi Ramli’s contributions to
PKR’s electoral resurgence in both 2018 and 2022 cannot be overstated. In 2018,
his aggressive campaigning, data-driven strategy, and appeal to urban and young
voters played a crucial role in PKR's and by extension Pakatan Harapan’s historic
toppling of Barisan Nasional.
Despite stepping away from
frontline politics for a time, Rafizi returned in 2022 with renewed vigour,
offering the coalition strategic clarity during a time of public fatigue and
distrust in political institutions.
Rafizi embodies a newer,
policy-oriented brand of politics. His approach is cerebral and reformist. He
communicates in technocratic language, often pushing for institutional reforms,
economic transparency, and efficiency in governance.
For many in PKR and among the
general public, he represents what the party promised during its early
Reformasi days: a clean, forward-looking government grounded in principles.
Anwar’s Premiership: The
Pragmatist Ascends
Anwar Ibrahim’s long journey to
the premiership has been defined by patience, perseverance, and an unshakable
belief in his political destiny. After over two decades of struggle,
incarceration, and political manoeuvring, Anwar finally assumed the role of
Prime Minister in late 2022.
But the coalition that brought
him to power, a unity government forged under pressure after a hung parliament necessitated
compromises with former political enemies, including UMNO.
As Prime Minister, Anwar’s tone
has shifted from revolutionary to managerial. While his government has achieved
some stability and pushed minor reforms, many of the bold institutional changes
promised to voters have been shelved or watered down in favour of political
expediency.
Critics argue that Anwar is
prioritising survival over transformation, using old-school political patronage
to secure a fragile parliamentary majority.
This change in trajectory is
likely where Rafizi’s disillusionment begins. Having fought for a new Malaysia,
Rafizi may see the current administration as drifting from its reformist
compass.
The structural reforms he
championed transparency in government spending, depoliticisation of state
institutions, and a shift away from race-based policies seem to be taking a
backseat.
Nurul Izzah’s Rise: A
Calculated Move?
In this context, the sidelining
of Rafizi and the rise of Nurul Izzah, Anwar’s daughter within the party and
government circles is telling. Once seen as a potential successor to her
father, Nurul Izzah has been reinserted into PKR’s inner circle at a time when
Rafizi’s influence appears to be waning.
Now elected as the Deputy
President of PKR in the recent party election, Nurul Izzah's elevated role and
close advisory position to the Prime Minister, along with her frequent presence
in high-level discussions, have sparked speculation that Anwar may be
consolidating familial control over the party potentially to curb the rise of a
strong alternative power base in Rafizi.
Many party insiders and members
of the public are beginning to draw parallels to Mahathir’s moves in the 1990s isolating
potential threats while promoting loyalists.
The Spectre of a New
Reformasi?
The question then arises: will
Rafizi Ramli stage his own version of the 1998 Reformasi movement?
The political conditions today
are certainly different. Rafizi doesn’t have the same kind of emotional mass
appeal that Anwar wielded in 1998. However, he has something arguably more
powerful in the current political climate: credibility among the educated,
urban middle class and a consistent track record of policy reform and
anti-corruption advocacy.
If disillusionment with the
current government continues to grow, particularly among youth and first-time
voters who expected more from the so-called "reformist" government,
Rafizi could well emerge as the nucleus of a new political awakening. His focus
on performance-based governance, transparency, and economic reform might find
fertile ground among a new generation of Malaysians hungry for tangible
progress over political drama.
A Battle of Titans?
Whether or not this proxy war
escalates into a public showdown remains to be seen. Rafizi has, for now,
remained loyal, but visibly distant. Anwar, on the other hand, appears focused
on consolidating power and managing a delicate coalition.
Still, history has a habit of
repeating itself especially in Malaysian politics.
The tension between idealism and
pragmatism, between the old guard and new blood, is playing out once more
within PKR. And just as Anwar once rose from the ashes of political persecution
to lead a movement, Rafizi may find himself pushed into a similar role not by
ambition, but by necessity.
Malaysia may soon witness not a
clash of personalities, but a clash of visions for its future. Whether that
clash will fracture PKR or transform it anew, only time will tell. The battle
lines are quietly being drawn and the nation is watching.
15.07.2025
Kuala Lumpur.
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