JOHOR BAHRU (May 24): Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli said he feels relieved to "return to living a private life" after losing in the closely watched race for PKR's deputy president post.
Taking to social media on Saturday, Rafizi said he did not join the party for public office or ministerial positions, let alone for financial gain.
"Honestly, I don’t feel that bad. If anything, I feel a great deal of relief that I can return to living a private life, away from the shenanigans of the corridors of power," he said.
On Friday, Rafizi failed to defend his position in a head-to-head contest with Nurul Izzah Anwar, the elder daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in what was widely viewed as an election to determine the presumptive heir-apparent to Anwar.
Anwar, 77, is entering his final term as the PKR president due to the party’s three-term limit. He retained the post uncontested.
Rafizi had previously pledged to resign from the Cabinet if he lost the deputy presidency.
However, it remains unclear whether the economy minister will follow through on that intention, as he remained tight-lipped when questioned by dozens of reporters on Friday night after the results were announced.
He was also visibly absent on the second day of the party congress held at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.
Addressing his defeat, Rafizi said he would not dwell on the outcome of the election, adding that he had been transparent and vocal in expressing his concerns about various issues related to PKR’s internal polls.
Nonetheless, he stressed that he had no intention of giving up on his idealistic belief that Malaysia deserves better — a belief that originally drew him into activism and politics.
"With more time on my hands, I am grateful that I can now spend more time with everyday Malaysians," he said.