Give Rafizi and Nurul some time, urges Anwar

Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar should be given some space before they are asked to be active in the PKR leadership, says party president Anwar Ibrahim.

He said this when asked to comment on Rafizi's decision not to return to active politics despite having beaten his conviction in court.

"(Rafizi) helps me a lot and from what I understand, he, like Nurul Izzah, feels some disappointment. They are waiting for something more positive to happen. We will give them time.

"I agree (with you that they have expertise), but I think we should give them some space and not rush them into making a decision. Let them think and contemplate...

"They are different from those who seek position and wealth," Anwar told reporters in Kulim, Kedah yesterday after officiating the Kedan and Perlis PKR conventions.

After winning his appeal against a 30-month jail sentence for leaking confidential banking details belonging to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) in March 2012, Rafizi told the press that he was in no rush to return to politics.

Rafizi was a rising star in the Malaysian political scene but has kept a low profile since the last general election.

"I think this three or four years, I want to return to be an ordinary person," he told reporters when met after the court decision.

As for Nurul Izzah, she resigned as PKR vice-president last December, just one month after being re-elected.

To a question about enforcing the party constitution provision on the removal of central leadership council members who skip three meetings in a row, Anwar said he is adopting a "soft approach".

"We will be soft to give space. Our friends are contemplating, hence we will not use that rule for now," said Anwar.

When asked how much more time will be given, Anwar said the central leadership council will decide on this.

"I always listen to their opinions. In the past, someone tried to enforce it, but I urged them to hold off," he said.

In an exclusive report in July, Malaysiakini revealed that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has not attended a single central leadership council meeting since being re-elected in November last year.