Anwar Takes Over Pandan as Adopted Constituency After Rafizi’s PKR Exit

KUALA LUMPUR,MAY,2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken over Pandan as his adopted parliamentary constituency following the departure of former Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli from Parti Keadilan Rakyat. The move is seen as part of PKR’s effort to reorganise its constituency operations and maintain political presence on the ground after Rafizi’s exit from the party.

PKR vice-president and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Anwar, who is also PKR president, had adopted Pandan as the party works to stabilise its service centre administration and political machinery in the constituency.

At the same time, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the Prime Minister’s senior political adviser, has been appointed as PKR’s monitoring officer for Pandan. Amirudin said Tengku Zafrul would serve as both the government’s representative and the Prime Minister’s representative in the area.

The announcement was made during the Himpunan Setia Keadilan Pandan gathering, where PKR leaders sought to reassure members and supporters that party services would continue despite recent political changes involving former party leaders.

According to Amirudin, Tengku Zafrul’s appointment was made at Anwar’s own request. He said Tengku Zafrul, who is also the Malaysian Investment Development Authority chairman, wanted to play a more active role in Selangor politics.

Amirudin also said Tengku Zafrul had been entrusted to monitor the Ampang parliamentary constituency. However, he explained that Ampang’s leadership remains under PKR members, meaning Tengku Zafrul’s role there would be more focused on assisting if issues arise.

The development comes after Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced their resignations from PKR, effective May 18, before formally leaving the party on May 19. Their exit has created renewed attention on PKR’s internal direction and how the party plans to manage constituencies previously held by senior figures.

For PKR, Pandan is politically significant because it has been closely associated with Rafizi’s profile and grassroots work. Reports before the latest announcement had already suggested that Tengku Zafrul was increasingly being seen as a possible figure for Pandan, although local voices warned that the seat should not be treated as an easy “parachute” seat.

Former Pandan PKR Youth deputy chief Muhammad Haqimi Mohd Zamri previously said Pandan has a near-even Malay and non-Malay voter composition, making it a constituency where candidates are judged not only by party logo but also by service record and local engagement.

He also said Rafizi’s previous work in Pandan, including mobile service counters covering polling districts in the constituency, had helped build strong grassroots engagement among voters. This means PKR’s next phase in Pandan may require more than organisational restructuring; it will also require sustained local service and trust-building.

Amirudin, however, said PKR had faced similar challenges before when former leaders left the party. He cited previous cases involving former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali in Gombak and former PKR vice-president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin in Ampang, saying the party had managed such situations before without weakening its operations.

He added that despite challenges in constituencies vacated by former PKR leaders, party services and operations had not been disrupted. According to him, PKR’s past experience showed that the party could reorganise its local machinery and continue serving voters.

Tengku Zafrul, speaking at the same event, called for support from PKR leaders and grassroots members in Pandan to ensure party activities could be carried out effectively. He said he needed guidance and advice from local members and expressed hope that everyone would work together to reach communities across Ampang and Pandan.

He also pledged to do his best to reach every home in need, regardless of background, religion or race. His remarks appear aimed at positioning his role as service-focused rather than purely political, especially as PKR works to maintain voter confidence after Rafizi’s departure.

The move to place Anwar directly over Pandan as an adopted constituency carries political symbolism. It signals that PKR’s top leadership is taking the seat seriously and does not want the constituency to be seen as abandoned after Rafizi’s exit. It also shows that the party is moving quickly to prevent gaps in local services and political coordination.

At the same time, Tengku Zafrul’s appointment could strengthen speculation about his future role in Selangor politics. His presence in Pandan and Ampang may give him greater exposure to local political networks, grassroots issues and voter concerns in two important urban constituencies.

The issue is also significant because Rafizi’s exit from PKR came at a time of wider internal debate over the party’s reform direction and leadership future. As a former economy minister and former PKR deputy president, Rafizi remains a major political figure, and his departure has naturally drawn attention to whether PKR can retain support among voters who were closely aligned with his political brand.

For PKR, the immediate task will be to show continuity. Constituency service centres are often critical in Malaysian politics because voters depend on them for local complaints, welfare assistance, community issues and engagement with elected representatives. Any disruption in such services could affect public perception.

By adopting Pandan and appointing Tengku Zafrul as monitoring officer, PKR appears to be sending a message that the party’s structure remains active and that voters in the constituency will continue receiving attention from the government and party leadership.

However, the political test will come through local response. Pandan voters are likely to assess whether the new arrangement can deliver practical service, maintain accessibility and address community concerns with the same consistency expected from their elected representatives.

Overall, Anwar’s decision to adopt Pandan marks a strategic move by PKR to protect one of its important urban constituencies after Rafizi Ramli’s exit. With Tengku Zafrul now tasked to monitor the area, the party is entering a new phase of political reorganisation in Pandan and Ampang as it seeks to maintain support, service delivery and grassroots confidence.