SHAH ALAM: Newly-minted PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has rebutted criticisms levelled against him by certain party leaders who accused him of being a "troublemaker".
The former Pandan member of parliament said just because he had been vocal towards the party and its leaders lately, it did not mean he was a traitor.
"Mr. President, I may be critical but I am not (former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri) Azmin Ali.
"I have proven that I don't get easily swayed by positions and power.
"When I criticise, it means I want to make sure you won't disappoint all of us who have installed you to your respesctive positions.
"I hope the president understands that I am not the type of person who just says sweet things while waiting for a time to backstab you," he said in his inaugural speech as the party deputy president.
Rafizi was referring to Azmin's decision back in 2020 to spark a coup within the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, dubbed the Sheraton Move, which subsequently led to the collapse of the federal administration.
At the time, Azmin along with several other PKR and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's (Bersatu) MPs left PH to form a new government with their old enemies from Umno and other parties in Barisan Nasional (BN).
"I never made a promise to break the prison just to rescue you like he (Azmin) did. He can make all sorts of promises when we're in front of him but behind our backs, he started negotiations for him to become the prime minister.
"Mr president, if you want to be upset with me, so be it. I can only hope that I will be judged based on my efforts, work and consistency on issues," Rafizi said.