PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has dismissed claims of nepotism following Nurul Izzah Anwar’s candidacy for the party’s deputy presidency, with party information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil insisting the nomination is based on her credentials, not family connections.
“Nurul Izzah is currently a vice-president, so the issue of nepotism simply does not arise,” said Fahmi during his weekly press conference following the Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Communications on Wednesday.
He added that the party embraces democratic values and trusts its members to select leaders who best represent their aspirations for the 2025–2028 term.
“Keadilan celebrates democracy and leaves it to the wisdom of our members to choose leaders they believe are aligned with their vision and hopes for the future,” he said.
Nurul Izzah, daughter of PKR President and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, recently confirmed her openness to contest after receiving widespread endorsements, including from PKR chapters in Pahang, Melaka, Selangor, Johor, and the Federal Territories.
Fahmi, who also heads the Lembah Pantai branch and is Minister of Communications, expressed strong support on behalf of PKR Federal Territories, citing Nurul Izzah’s long-standing commitment to the party’s reform agenda.
“She has long stood on her own merit and carved a name for herself as a party leader well-versed in the challenges of our struggle,” he said in a Facebook post.
Highlighting her leadership in the Ayuh Malaysia campaign and her role in energising the party base, Fahmi said her ability to unify factions within the party was instrumental in PKR’s journey to federal power.
“This support is not about legacy or nostalgia, but a reflection of our confidence in her capacity and integrity as a future leader,” he added.
Fahmi said the party needs a leader with strong diplomatic instincts to bridge internal divisions and strengthen ties within the broader coalition ahead of the next general election.
“God willing, this bold step will be embraced by the leadership and members as we move forward with the people’s hope for a better Malaysia,” he said. - May 7, 2025
