Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has revealed that his father suffered a heart attack just one day before the official launch of the party on May 17.
Speaking during the Jelajah Kancil programme in Indera Mahkota, Pahang, on Sunday, Rafizi said the unexpected medical emergency created a tense and emotional situation for his family at a time when he was making final preparations for the party’s debut.
According to Rafizi, his father initially received emergency treatment in Kemaman before being transferred to a private hospital in Kuantan for specialised cardiac care.
“The day before Bersama was launched, my father suffered a heart attack and everyone was in a panic,” he told supporters.
Despite the family crisis, Rafizi said his relatives encouraged him to proceed with the party launch while keeping a close watch on his father’s condition.
Following the launch, he frequently travelled between locations and Kuantan to accompany his father during follow-up treatments and medical examinations.
Rafizi said his visits to the hospital also provided an unexpected glimpse into how quickly news about Bersama had spread among the public.
He recalled meeting an elderly Chinese man and his wife while waiting to collect medication at the hospital. The man, despite undergoing treatment himself, was eager to discuss the newly launched political party.
“He approached me and started asking about Bersama and how the party was progressing,” Rafizi said.
When asked about his own condition, the elderly man reportedly pointed to his yellowish appearance and explained that he was receiving treatment related to a liver illness.
According to Rafizi, the encounter left a lasting impression on him as the man remained highly interested in current affairs and developments in the country’s political landscape despite dealing with his own health challenges.
The Bersama leader said the experience demonstrated how rapidly information now travels and how political developments can reach people from all walks of life.
“Only a few days after the party was launched, many people already knew about it and were asking about its purpose and direction,” he said.
“Until today, I still remember that gentleman because he was among the most enthusiastic people I met when asking about Bersama while I was at the hospital.”
