Nurul Izzah downplays state polls rumour

Nurul Izzah downplays state polls rumour


PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar has downplayed speculation that she would be contesting for a seat in Penang during the upcoming elections in six states.

This was in response to an article claiming that Nurul Izzah (above) would both contest for a seat and be given an important portfolio in the state government if she wins.

"For now, I am committed to my current responsibility as co-head of the secretariat of the advisory body headed by Hassan Marican.

"I am however bound by my party’s decision," she told Malaysiakini.

Earlier, news portal Free Malaysia Today cited a source close to a Pakatan Harapan leader as claiming that Nurul Izzah would be given a seat to contest.

While the PKR vice-president stopped short of denying that she would be contesting, she said hard work must be put in to strengthen Harapan and the coalition government everywhere ahead of the state polls.

"Political stability is an important denominator in ensuring sustained economic growth and shared prosperity," she added.

Nurul Izzah was a three-term MP, serving in Lembah Pantai from 2008 to 2018, and in Permatang Pauh from 2018 to 2022.

She failed to retain the Permatang Pauh seat in last year’s general election, with Perikatan Nasional clinching a win.

In January, she was appointed as an unpaid adviser to her father, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, at the Finance Ministry.

After public backlash over the appointment, Nurul Izzah was reassigned to the Finance Ministry’s special advisory body's secretariat.