PKR state exco slams move to replace him in Negeri Sembilan polls

A PKR assemblyman and executive councillor in Negeri Sembilan has hit out at the party leadership over its decision not to let him defend his seat at next month's election, accusing "a certain individual" of efforts to remove him from the state administration.  

Ampangan representative Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek said in a statement it was common knowledge that he had worked hard to help the people in his constituency and to develop the state in general. 

"As the incumbent assemblyman for Ampangan, I was shocked that I was not renominated for the 15th state election," he said. 

"After reflecting and assessing what happened, the refusal to renominate me was because there are certain individuals who feel they would be harmed if I was still in the Negeri Sembilan government.

"This individual and his friends at the central level have made every effort to ensure that I am removed from the Negeri Sembilan administration." 

Rafie, PKR's deputy Cabang Seremban chief, won the Ampangan seat in 2018. However, the party announced that Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman would be fielded instead at the election on Aug 12. 

Rafie said that as the exco for investment, industry, entrepreneurship, education and human capital, he had brought development to the state, adding that he was known as a friendly representative who helped everyone regardless of background or political affiliation.

"I am also known for my high integrity. I have never been involved in the abuse of power, corruption, nepotism, cronyism, or anything else that might tarnish my personality."

He also said he was working to ask PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to re-evaluate the party's candidate for the Ampangan seat. 

"Anwar needs to make this change, because a survey of the Ampangan area shows that the majority want me to continue serving there."