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Rafizi Ramli

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In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ramli is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mohd Rafizi. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berhormat Tuan
Rafizi Ramli
MP
رافضي رملي‎
Rafizi in 2023
Minister of Economy
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 December 2022
MonarchsAbdullah
(2022–2024)
Ibrahim Iskandar
(since 2024)
Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahim
DeputyHanifah Hajar Taib
Preceded byMustapa Mohamed
(Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy))
ConstituencyPandan
5th Deputy President of the People's Justice Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 July 2022
PresidentAnwar Ibrahim
Preceded byAzmin Ali
Vice President of the People's Justice Party
In office
20 August 2014 – 17 July 2022
Serving with
Shamsul Iskandar Md. Akin (2014–2018)
Nurul Izzah Anwar (2014–2018)
Chua Tian Chang (2014–2022)
Zuraida Kamaruddin (2018–2020)
Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam (2018–2021)
Chang Lih Kang (2018–2022)
Michael Teo Yu Keng (2020–2022)
PresidentWan Azizah Wan Ismail
(2014–2018)
Anwar Ibrahim
(2018–2022)
Secretary-General of the People's Justice Party
In office
13 October 2014 – 25 November 2016
PresidentWan Azizah Wan Ismail
Preceded bySaifuddin Nasution Ismail
Succeeded bySaifuddin Nasution Ismail
Strategic Director of the People's Justice Party
In office
18 December 2010 – 13 October 2014
PresidentWan Azizah Wan Ismail
Preceded byChua Tian Chang
Succeeded bySim Tze Tzin
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Pandan
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 November 2022
Preceded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
(PH–PKR)
Majority48,296 (2022)
In office
5 May 2013 – 9 May 2018
Preceded byOng Tee Keat
(BN–MCA)
Succeeded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
(PH–PKR)
Majority26,729 (2013)
Personal details
Born
Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli

(1977-09-14) 14 September 1977 (age 47)
Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyPeople's Justice Party (PKR)
(since 1998)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Alternatif (BA)
(1999–2004)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2008–2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)
Children2
EducationMalay College Kuala Kangsar
Alma materUniversity of Leeds (BEng)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionChartered accountant
WebsiteOfficial website
Rafizi Ramli on Facebook

Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli (Jawi: محمد رافضي بن رملي‎; born 14 September 1977) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the Minister of Economy in the Unity Government administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2022 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pandan from May 2013 to May 2018 and again since November 2022. He is a member of the People's Justice Party (PKR), a component party of presently the PH and formerly the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalitions. He has also served as the 5th Deputy President of PKR since July 2022. He served as Vice-President of PKR from August 2014 to July 2022,[1] Secretary-General of PKR from October 2014 to November 2016 and Strategic Director of PKR from December 2010 to October 2014.[2] He is the founder of both the whistleblower organisation, National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW)[3] and the election volunteerism organisation, Invoke Malaysia (INVOKE).[4]

Early life and education

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Rafizi was born in Besut, Terengganu and was raised in Kemaman, an east-coast town. He came from a humble background; his father was a rubber tapper. During his schooling days, he was active in extra-curricular activities where he represented Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) in debate championships as well as being a top student. After finishing his secondary education, he was awarded a scholarship to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds.

Rafizi has been active in politics since his university days. When Anwar Ibrahim was sacked as the deputy prime minister of Malaysia in 1998, he became more involved in politics and joined in the Reformasi movement. He dedicates his involvement in politics to Adlan, his close friend who had become his inspiration.[5]

Early career

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After graduating from college, Rafizi worked for an accounting firm in the United Kingdom and at, the same time, studied for professional papers and qualified as a chartered accountant under the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).[6] Upon returning to Malaysia in 2003, Rafizi worked for the Malaysian oil company, Petronas from 2003 to 2009. During his tenure at Petronas, he held many important portfolios including managing Petronas' petrochemical assets. In 2009, he became the general manager of the healthcare company Pharmaniaga, before being appointed as the Chief Executive of the Selangor Economic Advisory Office, a position he held until July 2012.[7]

Political career

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Rafizi was elected to Parliament in the 2013 general election. PKR selected him to contest the seat of Pandan, which was held by former Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president Ong Tee Keat. Ong was dropped for the election by Barisan Nasional, though he remained popular among voters. The decision to do so was exploited by Rafizi, who repeatedly praised Ong on the campaign trail.[8] Rafizi won the seat by a margin of 26,729 votes, more than twice the number received by the MCA candidate.[9]

Rafizi did not contest the 2018 general election as his eligibility to stand as a candidate was put in doubt due to his pending appeal against a 30-month jail sentence for leaking banking details belonging to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) and its chairman. [10][11][12] The Pandan seat was instead contested and won by the then-President of PKR Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Kajang Move

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Rafizi is a close ally of the PKR's parliamentary leader Anwar Ibrahim.[13] In 2014, Rafizi engineered the failed Kajang Move, which sought to oust Khalid Ibrahim, a PKR member, as Chief Minister of Selangor and install Anwar as his replacement. The move encountered a number of obstacles; it ultimately succeeded in forcing Khalid's resignation, but Azmin Ali, PKR's deputy president, replaced him instead.[14]

In October 2014, after the Kajang Move reached its conclusion, Rafizi was appointed as secretary-general of PKR, replacing Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as the leading administrative officer of the party.[15] Rafizi's appointment came two months after his election as one of the party's four vice presidents.[16] The party's constitution permitted him to hold both his appointed and elected positions.[17]

Opposition

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Rafizi Ramli has been a staunch critic of the Barisan Nasional (BN) led government. He has revealed many leakages in the government, including corruption and mismanagement. Among his infamous revelation for BN's wrongdoings was the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal which involved the Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Shahrizat and her family were accused of misusing RM250 million in public funds meant for a state cattle ranch in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.[18] She, however, was cleared out of this case by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).[19] He has also revealed malpractices and wastages in the government which includes awarding of over-priced closed tender projects and purchasing of overpriced assets. Pakatan Rakyat state government officials also have their part with the revelation of 14th Menteri Besar of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim out of court settlement with Bank Islam over the RM66.67mil Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd shares when Khalid was the group’s chief executive officer. His revelation, which liquified Khalid Ibrahim's integrity was a part which culminated in the Kajang Move.[20]

Rafizi Ramli is an advocate for lower petrol prices.[21] He criticised the government's move in 2014 to end petrol subsidies, arguing that it would benefit oil companies and petrol station owners but not the Malaysian people.[22] He had prominently threatened to lead a street protest on 2015 New Year's Eve if the government did not lower the oil prices, following the fall of oil prices worldwide.[23][24] He had also advocated for changes to the way petrol prices are fixed by the government, to protect petrol station owners from the deleterious impacts of fluctuating prices.[25][26] His action for defending petrol station owners have attracted criticism from netizens and Utusan Malaysia for abandoning people's interest.[27][28][29]

Rafizi was not able to run for reelection in 2018 because he was appealing a 30-month jail sentence from the Shah Alam sessions court for leaking banking details about the National Feedlot Corp and its chairman Salleh Ismail.[30]

Return to active politics

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On 15 March 2022, he announced his return to active politics, as well as his intention to run in the 2022 PKR party elections from April to July 2022 for the PKR deputy presidency, which was left vacant after Mohamed Azmin Ali left the party in February 2020. He noted that the future of progressive, multiracial politics would be in danger if PKR and PH carry on to be only the “third power” which fails to attract undecided voters. His supporters were demanding that he returns to active politics, and he was quoted as saying that he was considering several factors before making a decision. However, PKR leaders appeared divided about his return, with some, such as Selangor PKR deputy communications director Zainol Abidin Mohamed, criticising his decision to leave politics. Others, such as Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi, said he would welcome his return because he would be able to help strengthen the party. He was an opponent of Azmin in the last party elections in November 2018 for the PKR deputy president position and was defeated by Azmin.[31]

On the night of 29 May 2022, Saifuddin conceded defeat and congratulated Rafizi on his landslide victory against him in the contest for PKR deputy presidency in the elections although the results were still unofficial.[32] He was the Deputy President-elect of PKR following his pending victory in the 2022 PKR leadership election. He was set to officially assume the position on the final day of the PKR National Congress on 17 July 2022. He did so after being officially named as PKR deputy president and after official results were announced by the PKR election committee.[33]

Return to Parliament

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Rafizi returned to parliament after the 15th general election in the parliamentary seat of Pandan. He managed to win the seat with a landslide 48,000 vote majority. He was subsequently appointed as the new Minister of Economy in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet.

Controversies

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Lawsuits

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He was charged with exposing confidential Public Bank customers' documents in his pursuit of exposing the NFC scandal. Rafizi was charged in August 2012 under Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia) 1989 for revealing four Public Bank customer-profile documents on the balance summaries of the NFC, National Meat and Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd and NFC chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail.[34][35]

Rafizi allegedly disclosed the documents to media consultant Yusuf Abdul Alim and The Star reporter Erle Martin Carvalho, at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya on 7 March 2012. Bank clerk Johari Mohamad, 44, is also accused of conspiring with Rafizi.[36][37] His effort to strike out the charges was rejected by High Court on 23 November 2012, by Appeals Court on 23 May 2013 and finally, by Federal Court on 6 April 2015.[38] His trial will begin on 27 April 2015.[39][40] On 7 February 2018, Rafizi was sentenced by a Sessions Court in Shah Alam to 30 months in jail for exposing confidential banking details relating to the NFC scandal.[41] The conviction was however overturned by the High Court on 15 November 2019 and he was fully discharged from the earlier jail sentence.[42]

On 8 April 2016, Rafizi pleaded not guilty to the charge of publishing a libellous statement against Tabung Haji (TH) through the posting of an article with the heading '’Analisa Kewangan Tabung Haji 2009-2015” in his blog.[43] On 27 February 2019, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court acquitted and discharged him for defaming TH.[44]

In August 2017, a Malaysian High Court in Kuala Lumpur upheld an 18-month jail sentence against him for having page 98 of the 1MDB audit report without approval, in violation of the Official Secrets Act 1972.[45] The conviction and 18-month jail sentence had prevented Rafizi from contesting in the GE14.[46] On 1 June 2018 after the GE14, Rafizi however was released on a good behaviour bond of RM10,000 bound over for two years in one surety over the OSA conviction by the Court of Appeal.[47]

On 16 November 2019, Rafizi Ramli succeeded in his appeal in the case involving NFC, National Meat and Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd and NFC chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail.[48] The judge involved in this appeal was Judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa. Mohd Yazid, in his ruling, said exhibit P4 and attachments A to D were photostatted documents that failed to meet requirements under Section 65(1)(c) of the Evidence Act 1950, and therefore inadmissible. Also discharged and acquitted from the same charge was bank clerk Johari Mohamad.

Election results

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Parliament of Malaysia[49][50][51][52]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
2013 P100 Pandan Rafizi Ramli (PKR) 48,183 66.73% Lim Chin Yee (MCA) 21,454 29.71% 73,225 26,729 87.32%
2022 Rafizi Ramli (PKR) 74,002 63.98% Muhammad Rafique Zubir Albakri (PAS) 25,706 22.23% 115,656 48,296 77.76%
Leong Kok Wee (MCA) 11,664 10.09%
Ong Tee Keat (WARISAN) 3,323 2.87%
Nadia Hanafiah (PEJUANG) 961 0.83%

References

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  1. ^ Rahimy Rahim (28 December 2018). "Rafizi Ramli, Chang Lih Kang and Ali Biju appointed as PKR VPs (Updated)". The Star Online. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  2. ^ "PKR names 3 new vice-presidents".
  3. ^ "NOW Malaysia - National Oversight & Whistleblowers". nowmalaysia.org.
  4. ^ "INVOKE Malaysia : Objective". invokemalaysia.org.
  5. ^ "Allahyarham Adlan Benan Omar (1973 – 2008) - Rafizi Ramli". rafiziramli.com. September 2010.
  6. ^ "Biodata - Rafizi Ramli". rafiziramli.com. 3 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Rafizi quits as CEO of Selangor economic advisor's office". The Malaysian Insider. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  8. ^ Chooi, Clara (22 April 2013). "Rafizi rides on Tee Keat's name in campaign for Pandan". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  9. ^ Chooi, Clara; Md Izwan (24 February 2013). "PKR mulled Tee Keat for Pandan but chose Rafizi, source says". The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  10. ^ Azura Abas (7 February 2018). "EC: Too soon to decide if Rafizi can contest in GE14". New Straits Times. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Rafizi says will not contest in GE14". New Straits Times. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Rafizi denies contesting in Rantau". New Straits Times. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Anwar, Azmin continue to shadow-box in PKR". The Rakyat Post. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  14. ^ Md Izwan (19 October 2014). "Azmin to bear PKR, Pakatan's burden in a future without Anwar". The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  15. ^ Rahmah Ghazali (13 October 2014). "Rafizi appointed PKR secretary-general". The Star. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Rafizi, Shamsul Iskandar are new PKR veeps". Astro Awani. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Anwar: Not wrong for Rafizi to hold two posts in PKR". Bernama. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  18. ^ "Shahrizat's hubby charged with CBT in NFC scandal - the Malaysian Insider". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  19. ^ "NFC scandal: Shahrizat cleared of involvement - Nation - The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my.
  20. ^ "Rafizi dedah kronologi hutang Khalid Ibrahim". 6 August 2014.
  21. ^ KHAN, FARAH ZAMIRA FARUSH (26 December 2018). "Harga RON95 sebenar di bawah RM2" (in Malay). Sinar Harian.
  22. ^ "Subsidi: Jawapan Khairy dedah BN memangsakan rakyat?" (in Malay). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Turun Harga Minyak atau Rakyat Turun ke Jalan" (in Malay). Sinar Harian.
  24. ^ "Protes harga minyak pada ambang tahun baru" (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 17 August 2022.
  25. ^ ZAIN, NIZAM (26 December 2018). "Pengusaha minyak mangsa keadaan, kata Rafizi".
  26. ^ "Stesen minyak bakal gulung tikar akibat penetapan harga, kata PKR - the Malaysian Insider". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  27. ^ hamzah, zulkefli. "Politik kritik" (in Malay). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018.
  28. ^ "amenoworld.net Is For Sale". www.amenoworld.net (in Malay).
  29. ^ RASHAD, ROBIATULADAWIYAH ABD (26 December 2018). "Pengusaha tak akan muflis walau minyak turun" (in Malay).
  30. ^ "I will stand in Pandan in GE15, says Rafizi". 2 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Rafizi back in active politics, to go for PKR's No. 2 post". Free Malaysia Today. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  32. ^ "PKR polls: Saifuddin concedes, congratulates Rafizi on win".
  33. ^ "Anwar officially announced as PKR president, Rafizi as deputy president for 2022-2025 session". MalayMail. 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  34. ^ V Anbalagan (7 April 2015). "Court Orders Rafizi to Stand Trial Over NFC Bank Leaks". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  35. ^ V Anbalagan - The Malaysian Insider (7 April 2015). "Court Orders Rafizi to Stand Trial Over NFC Bank Leaks". The Edge Financial Daily. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  36. ^ "Rafizi's BAFIA trial set for April 27". Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  37. ^ "BAFIA: Rafizi mula dibicara 27 April" (in Malay). Utusan Online. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  38. ^ "Rafizi's appeal in bank info leak case struck out". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  39. ^ "Kes Rafizi Dedah Penyata Akaun NFC Dibicara 27 April" (in Malay). mStar. 7 April 2015.
  40. ^ "April 27 for PKR sec-gen Mohd Rafizi's Bafia trial". The Borneo Post. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  41. ^ Nurbaiti Hamdan (7 February 2018). "Rafizi gets 30 months' jail for exposing NFC banking details". The Star Online. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  42. ^ Azril Annuar (15 November 2019). "High Court acquits Rafizi over NFC bank info leak". Malay Mail. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  43. ^ "Rafizi told to enter defence in defamation case". The Star Online. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  44. ^ "Rafizi acquitted of Tabung Haji defamation charge". Bernama. The Edge Markets. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  45. ^ "18-month jail sentence against Rafizi upheld". The Star Online. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  46. ^ RAM ANAND (23 August 2017). "Rafizi loses OSA appeal, jail sentence upheld". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  47. ^ Maizatul Nazlina (1 June 2018). "Rafizi released on good behaviour bond over OSA conviction". The Star Online. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  48. ^ "Rafizi walks away a free man".
  49. ^ "P100: Pandan, Selangor". Utusan. Retrieved 19 October 2014. Independent and third party candidates are not included. Percentage figures are based on total turnout.
  50. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 19 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  51. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  52. ^ "KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM 13". Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Pilihan Raya Umum (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
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