PETALING JAYA: PKR's Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who was former domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, should speak up about the issue of rising food prices, says party stalwart Rafizi Ramli.

       Rafizi said this was something that all Malaysians are experiencing.

       He said Saifuddin had 22 months' experience as domestic trade and consumer affairs minister during the Pakatan Harapan administration and was surprised that the PKR secretary-general had been unusually quiet regarding the issue.

       "I don't see Saifuddin being at the forefront of this, despite having 22 months' experience (as minister).

       "I'm sure he knows there are supply issues and the people no longer want to hear us saying that the government has failed to lower the prices of food," said Rafizi during a debate with Saifuddin on Wednesday (May 11).

       In the debate organised by Sinar Harian and aired live on Facebook, Rafizi said Malaysians want to know solutions to the food supply and pricing issue, and it has to be more than just lowering food prices.

       Giving the example of the rising cost of imported chicken feed, he said there needs to be a solution presented and not just talking about the problem.

       For Pakatan to prevail in the 15th General Election, Rafizi who is former Pandan MP, said the coalition has to put in more effort to woo voters, rather than be complacent and rely on an anti-Barisan Nasional sentiment.

       "We can't keep assuming that the people will vote for us just because we are not Barisan.

       "We must change according to the times and start giving suggestions to solve issues faced by the people," said Rafizi.

       Saifuddin said the events of the Sheraton Move in February 2020 that saw the exit of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and several PKR MPs had severely affected Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.

       Using an analogy of a sports team, Saifuddin said PKR has been crippled following the exit of the MPs led by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

       "If the team is meant to have 10 players, there are only six players left in PKR now. That is the situation in PKR since two years ago.

       "Anwar had to shoulder most of the burden," said Saifuddin.

       At the same time, Saifuddin said whoever is elected as PKR deputy president must be able to restore and strengthen the party's leadership and grassroots.

       "That person must be able to work with everyone, and not build his own political empire," he said, referring to the former factional wars between party leaders aligned with Anwar and Azmin respectively.

       "So, me and Rafizi are offering party members a chance, we are confident that we can work as a team, form a strong pact and most importantly, stay humble," said Saifuddin.

       Saifuddin and Rafizi are set to lock horns for the PKR deputy president post during party polls from May 13 to 22.

       There will be 11,282 candidates contesting in the PKR elections, which includes 17 people competing for the four vice-president positions.