More PKR leaders set to rally behind Nurul Izzah

More PKR leaders set to rally behind Nurul Izzah

PETALING JAYA: More PKR leaders are expected to voice their support for vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar to contest the deputy president post at the upcoming central leadership council election, says a source.

Numerous statements have been released by PKR leaders across the country today backing Nurul Izzah, who is PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s oldest daughter, for the deputy president’s position at the May 23 polls.

The deputy president’s post is now held by Rafizi Ramli. He has already announced that he would be defending the post he was elected to in 2022 after defeating Saifuddin Nasution Ismail with a landslide 16,668-vote majority.

Among those who have voiced support today for Nurul Izzah to contest the deputy president’s post is Selangor PKR chief Amirudin Shari. The Selangor menteri besar is also a PKR vice-president.

Apart from Wanita PKR, the party’s divisions in Penang, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Kedah and Kelantan have also issued statements today backing Nurul Izzah – citing her years of service to the party, dating back to its formation.

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Nurul Izzah entered politics after Anwar’s 1998 sacking as deputy prime minister and his subsequent jailing. This then sparked the Reformasi movement and paved the way for the establishment of Parti Keadilan Nasional, the forerunner of PKR.

Nurul Izzah previously said she would contest the PKR vice-presidency this year, a post to which she was appointed after sitting out the 2022 party polls.

While the former Permatang Pauh MP has not confirmed whether she will contest the deputy president’s post, the source said her candidacy is a “done deal”.

“She will be contesting,” said the well-placed source within the party.

“It doesn’t matter much whether Rafizi will contest or not… Showing support for him means you’re against the president.

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“One by one, more statements will be issued backing Nurul Izzah to contest for the No. 2 spot.”

Nominations for central leadership council posts will open at 12pm on Thursday and close at 11.59pm on Friday.

Rafizi looked set to retain his position at the party polls after he was endorsed by Anwar in March.

However, the defeat of several bigwigs believed to be aligned to him in the recent PKR divisional polls led to rumours last week that he had resigned as economy minister.

Last Friday, Anwar defended Rafizi’s decision to go on leave, calling it a non-issue. Rafizi resumed his official duties today.

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A PKR assemblyman told FMT that the “sudden push” for Nurul Izzah by various leaders is meant to put pressure on Rafizi, who was not pleased with the outcome of last month’s division polls which saw prominent incumbent leaders knocked out.

“Everyone was given an opportunity to check the results, and many of them accepted it and have now moved on. He should have taken the same attitude,” said the assemblyman.

When asked whether it would reflect poorly on PKR if its top two leaders were a father-and-daughter duo, the assemblyman said Nurul Izzah can hold her own in the party.

“She was responsible for the Reformasi movement. When her father was in jail, she was the one who went all over the world helping PKR win support,” said the assemblyman.

“If Rafizi wants to contest, he can go ahead and submit an application. It will be a good fight to see who the members actually want.”

FMT has reached out to Nurul Izzah and Rafizi for comment.