PETALING JAYA: Immediately after winning the PKR deputy presidency by a large margin, Rafizi Ramli pledged to hit the ground running in the party’s preparations for GE15.

       First on his to-do list is a meeting with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

       “PKR will become strong again when all of its members – from the grassroots level to the president – move together with one strategy, and carry out their respective duties effectively,” said Rafizi, who beat Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to the No. 2 post in the party elections.

       Rafizi, in a lengthy Facebook post, paid tribute to his campaign team which he said consisted of regular grassroots members.

       “They are the ones who campaigned tirelessly across the country and succeeded in uniting the party in one movement – which is to be ready for GE15 without compromising our principles and dignity as a reformist party,” added Rafizi.

       He said voters’ demands have changed and Malaysians are looking for smarter and effective future leaders and ministers.

       “It’s no longer about PKR/Pakatan being seen as relatively ‘cleaner’ than Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional. We need to be smarter and more efficient as administrators and future ministers,” he said.

       Rafizi also reflected on his exit from politics in 2018, saying that it allowed him to better comprehend the feelings of regular voters.

       “They are more in tune about the failure of the system and the structural issues in the country,” he said.

       “As a party that wants to remain relevant in influencing the political landscape, PKR must hear the wishes of the people.

       “If we fail to convince voters this time, it means our efforts are lame, not (that) the people are not smart,” he said.

       “We need to respect the decision of the people. They have to be confident with our ideas and abilities.”