SINAR DAILY
Nurul Izzah's ascendancy: A new era for PKR and Malaysian politics?
Political analysts interpret this wave of endorsements as a clear signal that Nurul Izzah has the backing of PKR’s top leadership for the deputy presidency role.
By MOHD FAIZUL HAIKA MAT KHAZI
08 May 2025 10:14am
If Nurul Izzah steps into the deputy president role, it could be a stepping stone toward higher office, positioning her as a potential successor to her father as PKR president. - Photo source: Nurul Izzah Anwar/FB
SHAH ALAM - While the nomination process for the Central Leadership Council (MPP) and PKR’s 'Top Six' positions is set for Thursday and Friday, the party’s internal election race is already heating up.
A significant move by division chiefs from various states—including Melaka, Perak, Selangor, Sabah, Johor, Kelantan, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur—has thrown PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar into the spotlight and many have backed her as the next candidate for deputy president.
Nurul Izzah
Nurul Izzah's candidacy has garnered strong support from influential PKR figures, including Prime Minister’s senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, PKR vice president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, women’s chief Fadhlina Sidek and youth chief Adam Adli Abdul Hamid.
Political analysts interpret this wave of endorsements as a clear signal that Nurul Izzah has the backing of PKR’s top leadership for the deputy presidency role.
This raises the possibility that current deputy president and Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli might withdraw from the race despite earlier confirming his intention to defend the post.
Similarly, former PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail remained ambiguous on whether he would once again contest the deputy presidency after failing to win the post in the previous party election.
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Amid the overwhelming support for Nurul Izzah, a key question arose: was this truly the voice of the grassroots, or merely a political manoeuvre by the elite ahead of the election?
Nurul Izzah’s influence within PKR is undeniable and as the eldest daughter of party president and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim, the spectre of nepotism looms large.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali suggested that it would be more legitimate if Nurul Izzah were to secure the deputy presidency through a fair election, rather than being propelled into the role by political elites.
This, he argued, would help dispel accusations of nepotism and silence critics who accuse PKR of family dynasties.
However, the decision ultimately lies with Nurul Izzah herself. She has yet to announce whether she will contest the deputy presidency or seek to retain her current vice president role.
Her decision, expected within the next few days, could have profound implications not just for PKR and PH’s leadership but for Malaysia’s political landscape as a whole.
If Nurul Izzah steps into the deputy president role, it could be a stepping stone toward higher office, positioning her as a potential successor to her father as PKR president.
She could also rise to become the PH chairman and if supported by a majority in the next general election, she could make history as Malaysia’s first female Prime Minister.
Yet, the road to the deputy presidency is fraught with challenges. Nurul Izzah faces potential internal sabotage, with some delegates rejecting her due to concerns over political dynasties.
A defeat, should she choose to contest, could be seen as a public rebuke of familial influence within the party, undermining Anwar’s credibility as PKR president and Prime Minister.
Such a loss would also provide ammunition to the Opposition, which has long accused PKR of nepotism, further eroding public trust in the party’s moral integrity.
Nurul Izzah’s nomination, then, represents more than just a race for the deputy president’s role. It is a high-stakes gamble—balancing political idealism with the realities of party power dynamics.
It poses a critical question for PKR’s future: Will Nurul Izzah become a unifying force, or will she fuel a new wave of internal divisions within the party?
Amid the overwhelming support for Nurul Izzah, a key question arose: was this truly the voice of the grassroots, or merely a political manoeuvre by the elite ahead of the election?
Nurul Izzah’s influence within PKR is undeniable and as the eldest daughter of party president and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim, the spectre of nepotism looms large.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali suggested that it would be more legitimate if Nurul Izzah were to secure the deputy presidency through a fair election, rather than being propelled into the role by political elites.
This, he argued, would help dispel accusations of nepotism and silence critics who accuse PKR of family dynasties.
However, the decision ultimately lies with Nurul Izzah herself. She has yet to announce whether she will contest the deputy presidency or seek to retain her current vice president role.
Her decision, expected within the next few days, could have profound implications not just for PKR and PH’s leadership but for Malaysia’s political landscape as a whole.
If Nurul Izzah steps into the deputy president role, it could be a stepping stone toward higher office, positioning her as a potential successor to her father as PKR president.
She could also rise to become the PH chairman and if supported by a majority in the next general election, she could make history as Malaysia’s first female Prime Minister.
Yet, the road to the deputy presidency is fraught with challenges. Nurul Izzah faces potential internal sabotage, with some delegates rejecting her due to concerns over political dynasties.
A defeat, should she choose to contest, could be seen as a public rebuke of familial influence within the party, undermining Anwar’s credibility as PKR president and Prime Minister.
Such a loss would also provide ammunition to the Opposition, which has long accused PKR of nepotism, further eroding public trust in the party’s moral integrity.
Nurul Izzah’s nomination, then, represents more than just a race for the deputy president’s role. It is a high-stakes gamble—balancing political idealism with the realities of party power dynamics.
It poses a critical question for PKR’s future: Will Nurul Izzah become a unifying force, or will she fuel a new wave of internal divisions within the party?
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