PKR deputy president candidate Rafizi Ramli says that he is battling incumbent Mohamad Azmin Ali and his allies due to their track record of frustrating major strategic decisions.

Rafizi, in an interview with Star TV yesterday, cited Azmin's previous insistence on working with PAS, as well as objections from the camp when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was nominated Pakatan Harapan's choice for prime minister.

"We were responsible for launching Pakatan Harapan. Azmin was against it, because he felt that a union with PAS would have ensured the longevity of PKR, and we wouldn't have survived without Malay votes.

"Likewise, when we decided to bring Mahathir and Bersatu (into Harapan) and agreed with the consensus that he be made the seventh prime minister, people like (PKR Wanita deputy chief) Haniza Talha, (PKR Wanita chief) Zuraida Kamaruddin and Azmin were against it on the basis that it should be a younger prime minister," he said.

Following the break up of Pakatan Rakyat, Azmin kept PAS in the Selangor government in a bid to maintain cordial ties. PAS was wiped out in Selangor during the 14th general election, leaving it with only one seat.

Four months before the May 9 general election, Zuraida, a key Azmin ally, also spoke out against Mahathir's nomination as prime minister, favouring instead that he was made a "senior minister".

Constant obstacles

Rafizi said such obstacles by Azmin's camp "always" happened in the last four to five years.

"Anytime we need to move forward with a big decision, there's always been a different opinion that frustrates it.

"Now that we have Anwar Ibrahim as president of the party and prime minister in waiting, we need a solid team that moves the party together in one direction without continuously splitting.

"While we entertain different opinions, (for) major strategic decisions, we can't continuously tear at each other like this," he said.

It is amid this backdrop, Rafizi said, that a team has emerged to challenge Azmin's camp.

"In that context, there is a strong voice within the party that manifested into this one to one clash, which has never happened in PKR elections.

"There has always been a three-cornered fight, never a clear ideological divide like what we have now," he said.

Rafizi said his team hopes to see Anwar's ascension to prime minister through.

"We don't want backdoor arrangements or discussions or moves that can frustrate. Because that has always happened in the last four years," he said.

Rafizi also pointed out that while Azmin can tout his position in government for voters in PKR, he can instead offer his grassroots network.