Malaysia’s ruling party is pushing for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter – Nurul Izzah – to contest to be his number two, in a race which appears to have caused a rift within the government.
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Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a key party in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that anchors Anwar’s “Madani” government, will hold its central leadership elections on May 21, with all positions except the presidency available.
Party branches in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak and Pahang have backed the prime minister’s eldest daughter candidacy for the deputy presidency, a post currently held by Economics Minister Rafizi Ramli.
Nurul Izzah, one of the party’s seven vice-presidents, has been a central figure in Anwar’s turbulent political journey and is revered by party members as the “Princess of Democracy”. However, she lost the family’s traditional stronghold of Permatang Pauh in Penang during the 2022 general election – a district she inherited from her father and later from her mother.
Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari, who also chairs the state PKR chapter, said Nurul Izzah’s lack of parliamentary representation makes her an ideal candidate for the deputy presidency.
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“Nurul Izzah is not new. She has fought since she was young, being the voice of the youth in a time full of hardship, being detained, insulted, but never leaving the field of struggle,” Amirudin said in a statement signed by 18 other state-level leaders.
Elevating Nurul Izzah presents a challenge for Anwar, who has built his platform on transparency, good governance and a staunch anti-corruption stance.