Officiating the PKR Youth and Wanita wing congress today, Rafizi said the challenges they face today differ from those of their predecessors.

“This is why the only thing that holds you to this party, the sole foundation that can help you become effective leaders with the responsibilities entrusted to you, is the idealism of your youth.

“Only idealism can strengthen your determination to keep moving forward, continuously building strength, tirelessly serving the people, consistently introducing new and creative ideas, and ensuring that the Youth and Wanita wings remain pillars of strength for the party,” he said.

Rafizi said, however, that idealism without organisational strength and more importantly, that does not leverage on talent, would not move the party forward.

“Idealism alone can win over people in the beginning, but without organisation, leadership, and talent to provide a vision for the future, it will lead to nowhere.”

He cited PAS as an example that looks to the religion of Islam as its reference for idealism, noting that it can fill stadiums full of supporters.

“We have worked alongside PAS. Two days before elections, they could easily gather 100,000 supporters. But then, they lost the elections,” he said, referring to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition established in 2008, which included both PKR and PAS alongside DAP.

Rafizi then asked the delegates if they were ready to lead the party and government in a decade’s time, before saying that nobody can be “truly prepared” to do so.

“But, as an organisation and leadership, what we can do is build a foundation, set up the processes, sharpen (the skills), and provide the space for new faces with potential to bring the party and its wings to the next level so that we can be fair to the people,” he said.