He said he did not make the decision for personal reasons or interest alone, but out of concern that the public will perceive PKR as a party of “yes-men”.

“We will respect the party’s processes and unity, but we have never just ‘swallowed’ what has been ‘fed’ to us. If we disagree, we will say so,” he said during a live recording of his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast at the MBSJ multipurpose hall in Serdang yesterday.

Rafizi will run against former Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar for PKR’s No 2 post on May 23.

Rafizi was also reported yesterday to taking issue with PKR election committee chairman Dr Zaliha Mustafa over her handling of the party’s divisional elections, which had resulted in many of his allies losing their contest.

He accused her of ignoring hundreds of objections filed by members, and party secretary-general Fuziah Salleh of failing to detect applications by party members who held dual memberships.

“Whoever becomes the election committee chairman after this must remember that they hold a heavy responsibility because they are the first gatekeeper to the party to prevent such incidents.

“So, if members object (to something), don’t look down on them and act as though you have bigger issues to handle,” he said.