Amirudin backs Nurul Izzah as endorsements continue pouring in

Summary

• Amirudin Shari leads the Selangor PKR chapter in expressing support for Nurul Izzah Anwar to have a go at the party's deputy president post.

• Three out of 22 state PKR divisions, however, did not endorse the statement backing her.

• Adam Adli also backs Nurul Izzah.

PKR vice-president Amirudin Shari, often regarded as a third force within the party’s internal politics, has joined the chorus of figures backing Nurul Izzah Anwar as a potential contender for the deputy president post in the party’s upcoming central election.

Amirudin, who is also the Selangor menteri besar, expressed the party’s state chapter’s support for Nurul Izzah to challenge incumbent PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli.

Asserting that Nurul Izzah has remained one of the key faces of PKR from the very beginning of the party’s struggles for the rakyat, Amirudin said PKR must be led by those who can strengthen its internal structure while unifying members’ voices.

“We do not only need leaders who are good orators or can win seats. We need leaders who understand members’ heartbeats, are ready to listen to the grassroots, and know how to put the party above personal interests.

“(PKR) needs a deputy president who is not tied to the government administration, but can focus on strengthening the party from within,” the Gombak PKR division chief said in a statement yesterday.

He added that Nurul Izzah is capable of being a loyal ally and an honest adviser to PKR president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also her father.

Three S’gor divisions dissent

The statement was signed by 19 Selangor PKR division representatives. However, three other party divisions in the state opted out of endorsing Nurul Izzah to contest the party’s number two position.

The three dissenting divisions are Tanjung Karang, Pandan and Selayang.

While Rafizi is Pandan PKR division chief, Selayang PKR leader and the party’s deputy information chief Chua Wei Kiat is known to be a part of Rafizi’s camp in the party.

In a statement yesterday, Tanjung Karang deputy division chief Anwar Karison expressed support for Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s potential bid for the PKR deputy presidency.

Anwar Karison said Saifuddin has demonstrated excellent leadership not only within the party, but also in the government as a well-respected home minister.

“(Saifuddin) is considered more ‘neutral’ or less controversial among certain factions within PKR. His candidacy can be seen as an effort to bridge the divide between different camps in the party,” he added.

For the record, Tanjung Karang PKR division chief Yahya Mat Sahri is also serving as Saifuddin’s political secretary.

Adam gives endorsement

Yesterday, the prime minister’s senior aide and PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Akin led calls of support from five out of six Malacca PKR divisions for Nurul Izzah to rise and vie for the party’s deputy presidency.

A slew of other leaders from PKR Women as well as the party’s divisions in Penang, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Kedah and Kelantan have also declared their advocacy of Nurul Izzah, with many pointing to her capabilities and credibility.

Most recently, outgoing PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim, who failed in his bid to secure the Hang Tuah Jaya PKR division deputy chief post, also noted his support for Nurul Izzah, claiming that she has consistently championed values aligned with the party’s principles.

Nominations for PKR’s central leadership council posts will open at 12pm on May 8 and close at 11.59pm the following day.

So far, no candidate has publicly announced a bid to challenge Rafizi, but Saifuddin earlier admitted to meetings with the economy minister and the prime minister to discuss his future in the party.

Nurul Izzah previously said she is aiming to contest the PKR vice-presidency this time around, a post she was appointed to after sitting out the 2022 party election.

If Nurul Izzah takes up the mantle of deputy president, it would put her in a position to succeed as PKR president.

This is as Anwar Ibrahim’s coming term as party president - which he is set to win unconstested - will be his last after hitting the three-term limit.

Nurul Izzah can save PKR from someone 'incapable', says Hassan in support

Pushing Nurul Izzah to be PKR No 2 can be its undoing, analysts warn

Disruptors want 'civil war', PKR leader says over those backing Saifuddin