PUTRAJAYA: Nurul Izzah Anwar’s performance in the PKR deputy presidency race later this month should not be seen as an assessment of her father and party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The former party secretary- general said he disagreed with incumbent party No. 2 Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli that this would be the case.
Saifuddin Nasution added that Rafizi’s recent remarks on the contest were unique to PKR.
“But I don’t see Nurul Izzah’s possible defeat as a rejection of support for Anwar or as a rejection of Anwar’s leadership.
“This is a contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah, one which party members are carefully evaluating before making their decision,” he told a press conference after the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.
The PKR deputy president post will be a straight fight between the incumbent, Rafizi, who is the Economy Minister, and Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is currently an appointed vice president.
In a shocking move on Monday night, Rafizi urged his supporters to instead back rival Nurul Izzah Anwar in the upcoming party central leadership election.
Speaking during his campaign tour, Rafizi said Nurul Izzah’s defeat would reflect poorly on the party and be seen as a rejection of Anwar.
“Let’s say Nurul Izzah loses; what signal would it send to the people?
“This is just an example. If she loses, it will send a message that PKR members reject Anwar.
“That is why Nurul Izzah must win. She has to,” he was quoted as saying by an online portal.
Saifuddin Nasution said it would not affect Anwar’s image, as the latter was the very reason PKR exists, referring to his arrest in 1998 and the subsequent Reformasi movement.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said he chose not to contest the PKR deputy presidency to preserve party unity and maintain stability.
“I am a nostalgic and sentimental person. As one of the party seniors, I want to see the party grow stronger and more stable,” he said, adding that those contesting should not view the party polls as a case of ‘us versus them’.
“We must have the right mindset before we offer to contest.
“The right mindset is ‘we are in this together’, not ‘us versus them’,” he said.
Nominations for PKR’s 2025-2028 term closed on Friday (May 9), confirming a one-on-one contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah for the deputy presidency.
Anwar remains as party president unopposed, as no one else was nominated for the post.
