Race to be Anwar’s successor in PKR heats up as social gathering bigwigs again his daughter Nurul Izzah | USAEMALL.com

CONCERNS OF NEPOTISM

Known as “Reformasi Princess” for her role in campaigning for her father’s release from prison 20 years ago, Nurul Izzah was a two-term Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh in Penang before she lost her parliamentary seat in the 2022 general election. 

She was appointed as one of PKR’s vice-presidents the same year after opting not to contest the central leadership elections that year. 

Chief of PKR’s women wing, Fadhlina Sidek, has also called for Nurul Izzah, 44, to contest the deputy presidency, dismissing concerns of nepotism with Anwar set to continue as PKR’s president. 

“This is not a matter of whose daughter she is, neither is it a matter of whether a male or female (should be PKR deputy president). It’s also not a matter of factions … This is about the continuity of the party, which needs rejuvenation in terms of its leadership,” Fadhlina said on Wednesday. 

Fadhlina, who is also education minister, said Nurul Izzah had been present at every phase of PKR’s journey from the start of the “reformasi” movement and the party’s founding to the formation of the ruling unity government, of which PKR is a linchpin component. 

Other party and divisional leaders who have voiced support for Nurul Izzah include youth wing chief Adam Adli and Shamsul Iskandar Akin, the senior political secretary to Anwar. 

Shamsul, who is PKR division chief for Hang Tuah Jaya in Melaka, said Nurul Izzah’s candidacy is “not merely about personality or heritage”, but about the party’s future as a progressive political party. 

His statement of support for her was signed by five other division chiefs from Melaka.

PKR’s Kedah, Johor and Perak divisions have also backed Nurul Izzah’s candidacy. 

A party source had told Free Malaysia Today that more PKR leaders are expected to do so. 

In the 2022 party polls, Rafizi defeated Saifuddin for the deputy presidency with a landslide majority of 16,668 votes, according to the New Straits Times. 

PKR operatives close to Anwar told CNA previously that sentiment has turned negative in recent years towards Rafizi. Detractors say he has not shown himself to be a team player or taken on the duties of building the party infrastructure, while supporters of Rafizi argue he has been sidelined by Anwar.

In recent days, Anwar has said that Rafizi’s leave of absence from Cabinet should not be made into an issue. He confirmed Rafizi’s leave was only for a few days and not until the end of the month, as had been reported.