Rafizi tells Bersama candidates to stay disciplined after ceramah misstep

JOHOR BAHRU: Parti Bersama Malaysia leader Rafizi Ramli has ordered the party’s candidates to exercise greater discipline when speaking in public, after its Perling candidate Boo Wei Han drew attention with his remarks on pig farming.

Rafizi said he had given Bersama candidates and ceramah speakers detailed guidelines, adding that they must present the full context when raising issues.

“This morning, I wrote a lengthy guide for candidates and speakers on how to speak, the do’s and don’ts, what can be done, what cannot be done, and what message we want to deliver,” he said at a ceramah last night.

Rafizi added that he told candidates not to repeat the mistake, quipping that he was “tired of having to answer” for their missteps.

Two days ago, Boo questioned restrictions on pig farming at a ceramah in Taman Pelangi, arguing that the industry had existed for decades without causing health problems.

The Bersama candidate added that families depended on pig farming for their livelihoods and asked why it had become a political issue.

Rafizi said he was encouraged by the speeches delivered by Bersama candidates last night, saying they had shown their ability to adjust quickly with minimal guidance.

“These are qualified, ordinary people who already have their own life experiences. Usually, when given a chance, they are much faster learners than people who have been politicians for decades,” he said.

Rafizi also said that he was now less worried about future ceramah appearances by Bersama candidates.

Speaking to reporters, Rafizi said candidates were free to speak on issues affecting their communities, but should avoid turning criticism into confrontation.

He said the rule of thumb was that candidates could criticise, but should limit it to about 10% of their speeches and ensure that their remarks are not confrontational.

The ceramah was attended by about 100 people, including Bersama’s candidates for Larkin, Tiram, Johor Jaya, Puteri Wangsa, and Skudai.