Last Updated: 2:48pm, Jan 29, 2014

KAJANG (Jan 29): The political drama unfolding in Kajang had its roots two weeks ago, during a series of meetings and discussions, said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Speaking to fz.com in this once sleepy hollow after briefing party members on the upcoming Kajang by-election, Azmin admitted that the vacating of the seat by PKR's Lee Chin Cheh and the plan to field party de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not an impromptu decision.

"It was quite sudden as well. We’ve been planning and discussing this issue for about two weeks already," said Azmin, who earlier maintained that the reason behind PKR’s bold "tactical" move was to "strengthen" Selangor as a platform to launch Pakatan Rakyat into Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, PKR’s strategy director Rafizi Ramli openly admitted that it was his brainchild in the first place and he took full responsibility for the action.

In a statement today, Rafizi said PKR's move to pull this stunt barely nine months after the 13th General Election was to counter forces within Umno loyal to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who are on a quest to "remove" Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"While Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's administration has shown sterling performance over the last six years that endears him to the public, there are rooms for improvement in many areas, especially given the latest dynamics in Umno.

"It is an open secret that the move to remove Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has begun. As a party strategist, I cannot rule out the possibility that Najib is removed and Umno falls to the ultras led by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's faction.

"The unscrupulous attack and schemes to take Selangor by hook or by crook will begin the moment Najib is removed. Even as we speak, Umno's cards are all too obvious in the latest round of racial and religious controversies stirred up in Selangor in the last few months.

"Should the PM fall, expect a full blown manipulation of racial and religious issues to create mistrust and frustration with the Selangor government," were the reasons given by Rafizi in his statement.

Rafizi also apologised to the public and admitted that this plan will result in public funds being wasted, adding that "there is no excuse for wasting public money."

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