In a detailed statement, Rafizi said the two met on Tuesday at Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s residence, where Nurul Izzah not only pleaded for help but also reportedly offered him a potential position.

“I told her from the start of the meeting that I was not interested and would respect the election outcome,” he said.

Rafizi said he believed that Nurul Izzah’s plea stemmed from concerns over the new leadership line-up, which she feared would bring trouble for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and the party itself.

“She expressed concern over their (leaders’) intentions, records, political practices, and the impact on the party,” he said.

Rafizi said he has long condemned such groups, whom he believes are prioritising money and power over PKR’s reform promises.

“Because of this, I have been accused of being egoistic. Every election, these groups cooperate to reject candidates who do not share their practice,” he said.

“I have been accused of tarnishing the party by openly criticising these practices.”

“Yet, after these factions secured their positions and became part of the new PKR leadership, I was the one urged to fight them from within.”

Now, he said, the responsibility rests with Nurul Izzah, and that “God and the people will judge us beyond our reform slogans during (election) campaigns.”

“If Nurul Izzah was worried about their practices, she should not have colluded with them just to win the deputy president position,” he said.

“I am grateful I have done my best to overcome this first test of power.”

PKR delegates have started casting their votes today for the party’s central committee leadership following two weeks of intense campaigning by Rafizi and Nurul Izzah, who embarked on separate nationwide tours.

The election results are expected to be announced by tomorrow afternoon, with more than 30,000 delegates participating in the vote.