Ra, Ra, Rafizi: Will he be any different?

M Santhananaban

Speculation has surfaced that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, 78, may not serve beyond his current term.

Whether he does so with readiness, reserve or reluctance is left to be seen.

Eighty may be the right age to retire from public life for most politicians. Still, it may seem premature to suggest that for a sitting prime minister in Malaysia.

The Straits Times recently named five possible contenders for the top post: Hamzah Zainudin, Samsuri Mokhtar, Fadillah Yusof, Zahid Hamidi and Rafizi Ramli. The last of these has emerged as a voice of deep public frustration with the paralysis in the nation’s governance.

The nation drifts without direction in a turbulent world of rapidly changing geopolitical and economic upheaval. The country needs both clear direction and a clear line of succession.

No succession plan

The Anwar government has two deputy PMs but no political hierarchy of distinction.

Of the five contenders mentioned, Fadillah, 64, is the only one not from the peninsula. As deputy PM and a Sarawakian, he brings experience and represents the political weight of East Malaysia. But he has not projected himself as a prime minister-in-waiting.

Samsuri, 55, and Rafizi, 47, are both Terengganu-born. Samsuri is a steady administrator as Terengganu’s Menteri Besar but has yet to build the national profile the top job demands. Incidentally, the country has never had a Sarawak or Terengganu-born prime minister.

Zahid, 73, and Hamzah, 69, were both born in Perak, which like Terengganu has so far not produced a serious prime ministerial candidate.

Zahid remains a significant political force but faces questions about his past that have never fully gone away, despite charges against him being controversially dropped.

Hamzah is a seasoned operator but carries the weight of past controversies that may limit his broader appeal.

The deputy president of Anwar’s PKR is his daughter, Nurul Izzah, who is not an elected MP. Her prospects appear uncertain.

Anwar himself does not command the wide support and recognition that several of his predecessors had. He rose to power with empowerment, enthusiasm and expectation despite the baggage from his past.

But several of his closest aides and associates who stood by him through his darkest years are nowhere near him today.

Anwar’s fall and rise

Sacked as deputy prime minister in September 1998, Anwar endured years of court cases and two spells in prison. He walked free in May 2018 – a move made possible by the same man who had removed him from office in 1998. But doubts about his past lingered in some quarters.

In November 2022, after a general election cliff-hanger, he became the country’s 10th prime minister. Since then, he appears to have faltered, sometimes flummoxed and at other times flustered. He has not flourished in that high office.

One glaring weakness in Anwar’s tenure is his apparent indulgence of tainted Umno leaders. Several have faced criminal and corruption charges, which were controversially dropped.

Partly to secure the support of these party leaders, Anwar seems to have compromised on his reform agenda. This tolerance of such baggage has hurt his standing.

Another controversial move was his sidelining of Rafizi as deputy president of PKR. Three decades younger than Anwar, Rafizi would have fitted the successor’s bill admirably.

The case for Rafizi

So, of the five contenders, Rafizi stands out. But he will have to team up with others, including leaders of Sabah and Sarawak.

In the small pool of available leaders, Rafizi is exceptional. He is grounded in competence, sound in character, skilled in electioneering, and connects well with younger voters. He does not carry the baggage of patronage.

Malaysia has had two prominent leaders whose names begin with Ra — Tunku Abdul Rahman, the nation’s founding father, and Tun Abdul Razak. They laid the foundations of modern Malaysia and the initial phase of its development.

Three others carried the Ra name: Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim. Each promised much but ultimately faded from contention.

But Rafizi, with his apparent commitment to proper conduct, perseverance for the people’s wellbeing and accountability, could be a worthy third Ra – a successor to the tradition set by the nation’s founding leaders.

Rafizi has proven time and again that he has a feel for the situation on the ground. He has a genuine feeling for people, is fastidious about fair play and keen to push for greater democracy. His forthrightness, foresight and familiarity with the issues that confront the nation are reassuring.

So Rafizi could be a breath of fresh air. He could usher in a governance style compatible with the demands of technology and openness, bringing Sabah and Sarawak along with him.

Malaysia desperately needs such a change. Rafizi is relatively young, in robust health, fearless and energetic.

In the eyes of many seasoned politicians, he is seen as an upstart. That, perhaps, is exactly the point: he is not weighed down by the heavy baggage of patronage or negativity from the past.

Instead, he is an emerging political leader who could serve as an inspiration to younger people in Malaysia with a serious interest in public service.

I have not met Rafizi, nor spoken to him nor asked to see him on any occasion. Yet I believe he is a good fit for today’s Malaysia, well placed to transcend the barriers of ethnicity, religion and regional differences that have bedevilled this country for too long.

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.

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