Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has brushed aside speculation that an upcoming announcement by former PKR leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is intended to undermine the upcoming Pakatan Harapan convention scheduled for the same day.
The PH secretary-general said Rafizi and his supporters were free to organise any event they wished, stressing that the timing clash should not automatically be viewed as an act of sabotage.
According to reports, Saifuddin said Malaysia practises democracy and guarantees freedom of speech, assembly and association, adding that he did not believe the former PKR leaders were deliberately attempting to disrupt the coalition’s gathering.
He also explained that PH had planned the convention several months earlier as part of preparations ahead of upcoming state elections.
Reports previously stated that Rafizi, who is the MP for Pandan and former PKR deputy president, together with Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi, are expected to unveil their “new political direction” during an event at the PJ Performing Arts Centre on Sunday.
Both leaders resigned from the federal Cabinet in May last year, with Rafizi stepping down as economy minister while Nik Nazmi left his role as natural resources and environmental sustainability minister.
Their resignations came shortly after the PKR party elections, where Rafizi lost the deputy presidency race to Nurul Izzah Anwar. Nik Nazmi, who was aligned with Rafizi during the contest, also failed in his bid to retain a vice-president post.
Relations between Rafizi and the PKR leadership reportedly became increasingly strained following the party polls, with the former minister openly criticising both the government and party leadership on several occasions.
Meanwhile, PH is set to hold its first convention in four years in Johor this Sunday. The coalition last organised a convention in 2022 before returning to federal power later that year.
