Zahir Hassan Defends Friendship With Rafizi: “I Won’t Avoid Him”

Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan has defended his close ties with former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, stressing that the friendship should not be read as a sign he plans to leave PKR. 

“Maturity” Needed to Stay Friends Despite Politics, Says Zahir

He has his stand, I have mine,” he said, adding that staying on good terms despite political differences takes maturity. He also pointed to his relationship with former PKR leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, whose Setiawangsa constituency borders his own.

Zahir is seen as part of a group of PKR MPs aligned with Rafizi on governance and institutional reform. That perception grew after he attended a May event where Rafizi and Nik Nazmi announced their exit, though he said then that he would remain in PKR until his term ends. 

Since then, Wong Chen and Lee Chean Chung have vacated their seats and left the party.

Zahir said his focus is serving Wangsa Maju voters. He said he still attends party programmes, including the last congress in Melaka, and has told Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim he will join the Budget debate.

He also said voters in Kuala Lumpur increasingly value candidates over parties, and that politicians should not underestimate them.