'Friends forever': Izzah pays tribute to Rafizi in final campaign speech

Summary

• Nurul Izzah says regardless of the PKR election outcome, she and Rafizi will remain friends.

• PKR deputy presidential hopeful says to be a leader, one must overcome their ego.

Amid a heated campaign trail, PKR deputy president challenger Nurul Izzah Anwar, in her final speech, paid tribute to incumbent Rafizi Ramli, stressing that any outcome will not affect their years of friendship.

Addressing over 1,000 party members and leaders gathered at a hotel ballroom in Johor Bahru, where the PKR central election will open at 8am tomorrow, Nurul Izzah declared, “Whatever happens, no matter if I win or lose, it will not impact our friendship.

“Rafizi is my friend. Not just in the past or now, but until forever,” she said in concluding her nationwide “Damai” roadshow with a central message for the party to reunite after the election of the new 2025-2028 leadership lineup.

“In order to be a leader, firstly, you must overcome your own ego. That is a challenge for me too,” said the former Permatang Pauh MP, who also reminded that the people are not interested in the party’s internal affairs.

Earlier in her speech, Nurul Izzah addressed criticisms surrounding her intention to contest against Rafizi, while her father, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, remains as PKR president for his third and final term.

“The issue is, I have a sincere intention to contest (now). In the past, I have also given an opportunity (for others) to contest, while I became their follower.

“I did not contest the last party election, ‘okay! I will follow! I will make sure! I will do my best!’ So now I want the same spirit when our turn (now) comes, we work together,” she said.

The PKR vice-president also urged members to decide based on her track record, and that while she may have been less “fiery” when speaking out in public, she remains committed to using proper channels within the party.

“I will fight! You wait, you wait! But we choose our battles. When we want to do it, we will. Because it goes back to our intention,” she said.

Nurul Izzah’s grand finale rally held at a hotel on the seventh floor of a shopping mall in Johor Bahru saw over 1,000 delegates and members seated around the main stage where candidates took turns for their final campaign run.

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