Nurul Izzah urges Rafizi to accept ministerial appointments





BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 13 (Bernama) --Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar has urged former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli to accept the decision on the new Cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday.

Nurul Izzah, who is also Permatang Pauh MP, also urged the people to be optimistic about the new government set up by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

"What is needed now is to focus on the people. For now, he (Rafizi) cannot be a minister in the Cabinet, but as a good friend, I really appreciate his contributions to the party and nation."

"So, in the name of true friendship, I ask that we do this positively and overcome whatever happens to face this new phase of forming the nation under PH," she told reporters after a thanksgiving ceremony held to celebrate PH's victory in Permatang Pauh here today.

Nurul Izzah was commenting a statement by Rafizi who claimed that the appointment of top leaders of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), DAP and AMANAH as senior ministers by Dr Mahathir was done without consulting PKR, which makes up the four-party coalition.

Nurul Izzah said her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is de facto leader of PKR, would issue a statement on this soon.

Nurul Izzah also described the comments made by Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim as very useful.

"I think Dr Rais Yatim has made very useful comments and we accept all comments which were made with the intention of ensuring that this administration focuses on the people," she said.

Rais had earlier urged Pakatan Harapan not to view lightly Rafizi's comments but to immediately keep its pledges to the people.

Rais said Rafizi had sacrificed much for Pakatan Harapan.

-- BERNAMA