Rafizi and Khairy get her gratitude, but not Azmin

PETALING JAYA: On the same day that Nurul Izzah shook the political scene by quitting the party’s vice-presidency, she also reignited the feud between Rafizi Ramli and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Rafizi, the former vice-president who lost in the closely fought war for the deputy president’s post with Azmin in the recent party elections, tweeted his support for Nurul Izzah following her official announcement.

While expressing her gratitude to Rafizi on Twitter, she added that supporting him for the deputy presidency back then was her best choice.

The rivalry between Rafizi and Azmin is an open secret and the two engaged in a war of words prior to the party polls.

It is also common knowledge among many that Rafizi is aligned to Nurul Izzah and her father Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Earlier, Rafizi described Nurul Izzah as a reformist and a fighter, and that a senior party post was just one of the ways to contribute to the nation.

“Her decision, although shocking, sends a message which should be emulated.

“I read it as a decision to retain the idealism of the struggle in the chaotic political scene.

“I hope she can reconsider her decision. She knows I feel that she can defend the idealism of reformasi with her senior position in the PKR leadership, but I also respect her decision,” Rafizi wrote in his blog.

Rafizi added that he and Nurul Izzah had spent their youth building PKR since the first time they shared the same stage in London in 1999.

Nurul Izzah also tweeted her thanks to Rembau MP Khairy Jamal­uddin after he praised her as an exemplary MP and a worthy opponent.

“Thank you, YB Khairy Jamal­uddin. You have been an inspiration from across the bench since 2008. Can’t imagine Malaysia without your towering political footprint.

“Rooting for you, albeit as a mere MP now – but rooting nonetheless,” she said.

Khairy said it would be a terrible waste if she did not return to frontline politics.

“I am sure once the country is finally ready for a generational change in politics, @n_izzah will be back,” he wrote.

Nurul Izzah’s resignation might have come as a shocking decision, but there were clues that it was a long time coming.

Her tweets had shown her growing unhappiness over the recent developments in the political landscape.

On Dec 15, she slammed the possible crossover of former Umno MPs to the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

“Betrayal of mandate given (on) the 9th of May insults those who are loyal to the cause. Our party was attacked before by defections. Wouldn’t want that kind of pain and antics upon anyone else.

“There is no meaning to demo­cracy if Malaysia is governed by elite-based politicking,” she had tweeted.

Her discontentment was also seen in the heels of the PKR party elections results.

“What is the New Malaysia? The people are still waiting for its meaning. This is not the last station for PKR.

“We have to create the formula. If we fail (to do so), we will await the punishment (from the) people,” she tweeted on Nov 17, which was an extract of her speech at the PKR congress.

On Nov 3, she also appeared to vent her frustration at the way the PKR polls were progressing.

“How can one talk about integrity if you cannot muster a modicum of professionalism?

“In a period of competition, we may be under continuous pressure, but one must watch one’s decorum and lips in facing the opponent, including when a complaint is raised,” she tweeted.

Nov 3 was the day Rafizi claimed he was attacked at the Keningau PKR polling centre.