“If nothing else, hopefully Bersama will be a credible opposition unlike now where both sides are corrupt.”
– A Malaysiakini reader
DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli’s decision to take over Parti Bersama Malaysia may well turn out to be the most important political move of his career.
For the first time, he is now the leader himself – no longer someone’s deputy.
After being politically sidelined in PKR, the former deputy president had only two realistic options: remain in the party and slowly fade into irrelevance, or build a new political platform where he could continue championing the reform agenda he once carried with passion and conviction.
He chose the latter.
Like many observers, I believe this was the correct move. In politics, survival matters, but dignity matters too.
Rafizi could have remained quietly in PKR after losing the deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar.
He could have accepted a reduced role and waited for another opportunity.
Many politicians would have done exactly that in order to remain close to power.
But Rafizi is not wired that way.
As an older person, I genuinely appreciate that the much younger Rafizi’s political career has always been built around ideas, reform and the courage to challenge entrenched systems, even within his own party.
It is precisely this independent streak that made him popular among younger voters and reform-minded Malaysians in the first place.
You have to be “different” to attract attention and support.
His contributions to PKR cannot be denied.
Rafizi was one of the party’s strongest strategists and campaigners during difficult years when PKR was struggling against the Barisan Nasional machinery.
He helped energise the reform movement and was among the few leaders capable of articulating economic and governance issues in a way that ordinary Malaysians could understand.
He paid a personal price too.
Rafizi faced court cases, endured political attacks, and sacrificed much of his private life in service of the party.
For many supporters, the manner in which he was gradually pushed aside after the PKR elections last year appeared harsh and unnecessary.
This is why there is widespread sentiment that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a major political mistake in allowing Rafizi to drift away from the party.
Leadership transition remains one of the greatest weaknesses in Malaysian politics.
Senior leaders often speak about nurturing young talent, but when capable successors begin attracting support and influence, insecurity and internal rivalry emerge.
Instead of preparing the next generation to take over, many ageing politicians end up eliminating potential challengers.
That is perhaps the saddest part of it all. In Rafizi’s case, many Malaysians saw a leader with intellectual strength, administrative experience, and political courage being sacrificed for internal party considerations.
That may prove costly for PKR. If Rafizi succeeds in bringing even a small bloc of MPs with him into Bersama, the impact on the Unity Government could be significant.
PKR’s parliamentary strength would shrink further, and the MADANI government’s already complicated political balancing act would become even more fragile.
More importantly, Rafizi’s departure exposes growing dissatisfaction within PKR itself.
Political parties can suppress internal criticism for only so long before frustrations erupt into open rebellion.
Still, Rafizi’s decision is not without considerable risk. Starting or rebuilding a political party from scratch is one of the hardest undertakings in Malaysian politics.
History is littered with failed third-force movements that began with enthusiasm but eventually disappeared into obscurity.
Building a nationwide grassroots machinery requires money, manpower, discipline and years of patient work.
Rafizi understands this reality.
That is why his remark that it does not matter if Bersama candidates lose their deposits in the coming general election was politically significant.
It shows he is prepared for a long and difficult journey rather than chasing immediate electoral success.
That deserves respect.
Unlike some politicians who seek comfort in established parties after suffering setbacks, Rafizi appears willing to take the harder path.
Comparisons with Khairy Jamaluddin are inevitable.
Khairy chose reconciliation with UMNO after his expulsion, perhaps hoping that the party machinery and structure would provide a pathway back into mainstream politics.
Rafizi chose uncertainty instead.
Whether one agrees with his politics or not, there is something admirable about a politician willing to stake his future on principles and conviction rather than convenience.
Malaysian politics desperately needs leaders prepared to take calculated risks instead of merely protecting positions and privileges.
There is also another factor working in Rafizi’s favour: time.
Rafizi and many MPs aligned with him are relatively young compared with several senior figures dominating Malaysian politics today.
Politics is a marathon, not a sprint.
Even if Bersama performs poorly initially, the party could gradually evolve into a credible reformist alternative if it remains disciplined and focused.
Young voters, especially, may find Bersama appealing if the party can present itself as clean, policy-driven and genuinely reform-oriented rather than merely another personality cult.
However, Rafizi must also learn from the failures of other parties.
Malaysia already has enough parties destroyed by ego clashes, betrayal and internal power struggles.
For now, Rafizi deserves credit for making a bold decision at a difficult moment in his political life.
Instead of retreating quietly into political irrelevance, he has chosen to fight on and build a new home for himself and his supporters.
Whether Bersama succeeds or fails remains uncertain.
Only time will tell.
But one thing is clear: Rafizi’s move was the right one.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sirsiah@ gmail.com.
