As a 19-year-old, Nurul Izzah was thrust into the limelight after former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad sacked her father Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

During the reformasi period, she was known as its “puteri” or princess.

Two decades later, the Malaysian political landscape witnessed another unprecedented shift with Mahathir and Anwar forming an alliance – a move which Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his supporters claim has extinguished the reformasi spirit.

However, Nurul, now 37 and a mother of two, begged to differ.

At a press conference in Petaling Jaya this morning, the PKR vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP told Najib to do his homework before commenting on the reformasi movement.

According to her, the movement was not born with the sole purpose of opposing Mahathir, who is now chairperson of the opposition coalition.

“We did not start reformasi specifically to target Mahathir. It is clearly an institutional reform agenda, culminating in a better system of governance.

“So Najib must do some homework, read some history and then care to comment,” she said.

Yesterday, Najib once again announced the death of the reformasi movement, this time in Anwar's parliamentary stronghold of Permatang Pauh in Penang.

He pointed out that the opposition is now led by a “cruel person, dictator and great pharaoh”.

Though he did not mention Mahathir, those were terms used to describe the former premier during the reformasi era.

Nurul stressed that the reform agenda is far more important than any other personality, as the reforms are for the benefit of the rakyat.

“I would ask the prime minister, please rethink your statements before you come out and condemn the very essence of an agenda that will benefit the rakyat.

“Even the assistance to Felda and BR1M, that came about through the spirit of the reform agenda, to uplift the welfare of ordinary folks,” she said.

She also responded to PAS vice-president Mohd Amar Abdullah who had called for Mahathir to apologise publicly to Anwar over the Sodomy I allegation in 1998.

Though she welcomes the views of all stakeholders, she said she chooses to prioritise Malaysia first and in fighting their common enemy.

“Because of that I choose to talk about topics that are crucial and will affect all Malaysians,” she said.

The country has gone through a lot, she added, and the reform agenda is an inclusive and lengthy process.

“I will certainly encourage everyone to come onboard to support the reform agenda.

“So if today the prime minister decided that corruption has to be met with full force, and bring those perpetrators to face the law and he supports and adopts (the reform agenda), definitely I will accept Najib.

“We do not want to be trapped anymore in a system that can give rise to dictators. Let Najib be the last dictator,” she said.

Nurul also announced that think tank Institut Rakyat will be hosting a forum titled ‘China’s Investments: Is It Too Much?’ on Aug 24 at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH).

The forum will feature Mahathir, as well as esteemed economists KS Jomo and Azrul Anwar Ahmad Tajudin, who will be discussing whether Malaysia will suffer due to the potential excessive debt from the collaboration with China companies, she said.

Attendees will also be given the opportunity to voice their opinions and raise questions about the issue, she added.

The event will start at 8pm and is free to the public.