Not everyone is as cowardly as you, Rafizi slams Zahid

PETALING JAYA PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli ridiculed his rivals in Umno for cowardice and being out of touch with the people over a spate of rallies that have taken the nation by storm.

"Intimidation and fear tactics don't work anymore. It only worked on Zahid Hamidi in 1998, that's why he turned around within the first 2 weeks after the first demo. If Zahid Hamidi thinks everyone is like him, he is sorely out of touch with the public," mocked Rafizi, who is also the newly-elected MP for Pandan.

"You can see that despite several statements made by the authorities, the people are still coming out because this is a big issue. I would suggest that Zahid does not interfere in the job of the police. Let the police do their work professionally. We don't need another Home Minister who makes the silliest comments."

Zahid's U-turn of the decade!

Rafizi was referring to Umno vice president Zahid Hamidi, who taking over as Home Minister from Hishammddin Hussein last week had promptly warned the Opposition and rally-goers that action would soon be taken against them.

In the 1990s, Zahid was a staunch supporter of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who had then been the Umno deputy president. Zahid had protested against Anwar's jailing on trumped-up sodomy and corruption charges in 1998, but recanted and cut all ties with Anwar after former premier Mahathir Mohamad threw him into jail under the Internal Security Act. Zahid was released in 1999 after he reversed his stance and declared loyalty to the Umno leadership controlled by Mahathir.

It is also worth noting that during the 53th Umno General Assembly in 1997, Zahid had lashed out against Mahathir, calling for an end to cronyism and nepotism in the government. In response, Mahathir publicized the names of those Malay/Bumiputeras who had received shares and high positions in government-linked corporations (GLCs) and these had included Zahid.

Not your father's country either : Stop the polemics and do your job!

Apart from sabre rattling on the Blackout 505 rallies spearheaded by Anwar and his Pakatan Rakyat coalition, Zahid has also attracted public odium for himself and his Umno party for saying that those unhappy with the current political system in Malaysia should migrate.

His brash comments sparked a wave of public condemnation and added impetus to the Blackout 505 movement to protest electoral fraud and to demand re-elections in seats where the Opposition claims it has accumulated evidence of vote-rigging and phantom voters.

Zahid's comments have also sparked a wave of "lu siapa" and "ini bukan negara bapa kau" (who are you to ask us to leave, this is not your father's country) comments against him at the rallies.

“This country is also not (Anwar’s) father's. It is neither my father’s country nor his father’s country,” Zahid said in an outburst to the press earlier this morning.

Although not a week has elapsed since he was picked to replace the controversial Hisham, who was slammed for stirring up hornets' nests and creating racial tensions, it looks like Zahid may "outperform" his predecessor going by the fires he has lit in just the space of a few days.

"If he has time, he should tackle the issue of false I.C.s and phantom voters. That is more in line with his job. He needs to know the boundaries and not interfere with the professional work of the police," said Rafizi.

Would anyone take heed of what Mukhriz says?

The 36-year-old PKR leader also slammed Mukhriz Mahathir for disallowing a Blackout 505 rally scheduled for Tuesday night to be held at a stadium in Alor Setar. Mukhriz, who is Mahathir's youngest son and newly-appointed chief minister of Kedah, had drawn flak for his high-handed action and accused of being "like father like son".

"It doesn't surprise us at all because they have always behaved us this way. It doesn't even register on our mind what he (Mukhriz) says or what kind of warnings he makes because we have stepped forward to a new Malaysia to a much more liberated Malaysia. What he thins belong to the past and I dont think a lot of people will take heed of what he says," said Rafizi

"We are more interested in maintaining professional relations with the police because public safety and public order is of utmost importance and we are sure that any rallies if done properly and with full cooperation with the police will have positive results as has taken place in the past two weeks."

New IGP and Blackout 505 in Kedah to proceed

When asked if the new Inspector General of Police Khalid Bakar who last week took over from the retiring Ismail Omar would affacet Pakatan's relations with the police, Rafizi said he would wait and see.

Khalid has been widely condemned over many cases and he has even been caught red-handed trying to cover up mis-practices and wrong-doings such as in the Kugan Ananthan murder case as well as in trying to insinuate wrong-doing on the part of the Opposition to give Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration a 'boost' in image.

Such partisan conduct by the senior members of the police force has led to a tremendous loss of public confidence in the police, with most Malaysians having the perception that their cops were out to harm them or solicit bribes rather to protect them and maintain law and order.

"We are more than willing to wait and see. I am more than willing to give the benefit of doubt to Khalid Bakar," said Rafizi.

He added that the Blackout 505 rally in Kedah would proceed and a new venue to be announced on the social media network soon.

"I am sure 40 to 50,000 people will still come to Alor Setar or Pokok Sena, even if it has to be held in Mahfuz Omar's house," said Rafizi, referring to the Kedah PAS commissioner, who is helping to organize the event.





Malaysia Chronicle