NURUL Izzah Anwar today confirmed that she will be running for the deputy president's position in the upcoming PKR election.
"It is with great humility that I ask the members of KEADILAN to accept my candidacy.
"I offer to shoulder this great responsibility and trust, Insya-Allah - to work alongside me as we do our very best for the party in service of the nation," she said..
In the past two days, she said she had seen several KEADILAN supporters uttering insults and personal attacks, even calling her various names and using her marital status as a campaign taunt.
“I personally feel aggrieved - not because of the accusations themselves, but because it came from within the extended KEADILAN family.
“I ask for a return to decency - to protect all my comrades who are contesting, from spurious, malicious or personal attacks.
“This is a party that we have built together - from the early days of being part of the political estrangement to the leading party in a coalition at the federal level,” she said.
She said though there may be arguments and different views across a spectrum of issues – one must argue with facts - not with abuse and insults.
“We share after all, a collective quest for change and friendly competition,” said Izzah.
The PKR vice-president said she believes that the heart of KEADILAN's strength has always been in its branches and grassroots machinery. “For more than two decades, the leaders and members at the branch level have been the backbone of the party.
“However, in facing the GE-16, we need to move forward with a more structured, comprehensive strategy centered on shared strength.
“If I am elected as Deputy President, my main mission will be to work together with members, supporters and volunteers at all our branches - especially in the 50 marginal seats.
“Because GE-16 cannot be won through the efforts of any one individual alone,” she said.
She said PKR can only win by combining the strength of the branches, grassroots machinery, reaching out to the people and the community through campaigns and services that appeal to the hearts and needs of all.
“This is the time for us to restore the original ideology of our party, to reunite the strength of KEADILAN with the original spirit of struggle - bringing justice to all, taking into account socio-economic needs and the best opportunities regardless of race, background or belief,” she said.
She said she realised that no one can do it alone and she is committed to listening, empowering and strengthening the branches to move strategically together and unite in the same goal.
“Whether elected or not, my love and loyalty will always be with KEADILAN so that we can be close and relevant to the rakyat in facing all the challenges that lie ahead, both domestic and geopolitical.
"I will continue to work to bring together the great ranks of KEADILAN and help assist the elected leaders to realise our dreams and missions together,” she said.
Grassroots welcome Izzah
Izzah also revealed that many, including grassroots leaders who spoke to her directly, welcomed her participation in the current elections with hope, wanting to see regeneration and renewal in the party.
“My decision has also brought about unfounded accusations, scrutiny and personal attacks.
“I welcome all feedback - in fact this is the only way to soldier our journey to reclaim the mantle of reforms and initiate meaningful change.
“This guiding principle led me to cross swords time and again with existing leaders in the party and Insya-Allah, will continue to be my true north as we move forward to fulfilling our mandate and mission,” she said.
“Nonetheless, we have to contend with the reality that democracy is a noisy process.
“I want to be a leader that listens. I know we cannot achieve success alone. We can only succeed and continue to do so, as a team,”. Reformasi isn’t glamorous, she said, adding that it is slow, thankless but absolutely necessary.
“I realise as the unity government continues its work on the executive front, my focus must be on strengthening the party for the coming general election and beyond.
“I will always serve the party.
“However this time I would like to offer myself as a candidate for the post of deputy president - not to be appointed, but to contest and obtain support from our party faithful.
“Some have expressed concerns and asked me to reconsider this decision because they are worried that KEADILAN would be labeled as the “Parti Anak Beranak”. I respect all views, because they come from a deep love for this party,” said Izzah.
She said the ‘Parti Anak Beranak’ label is not new and since 1998, when the party founders and her came together to establish KEADILAN, this label was used to tarnish and belittle their collective struggle.
“When I won the Vice Presidency with the highest votes in 2010, 2014 and 2018, the same attacks were leveled against me.
“The attacks only disappeared in 2022, as I forewent any contest.
“Instead, I co-led and supported the Ayuh Malaysia’s movement, where I introduced a set of policies to be championed - including pushing for TVET and climate adaptation to better impact lives on the ground.
“Let us be honest - the allegation of nepotism will continue even if I choose to contest as Vice President.
“We cannot change our past, or our familial links, but we continue to hold on to our principles as we chart the future and rely on preserving our moral compass in the decisions that we make and the issues that we address,”. Regardless of the titles and perceptions that have been thrown around for decades, Izzah said she will continue to serve as she is convinced that the process of contesting openly and then receiving a mandate from the grassroots is not a form of nepotism.
“On the contrary, that is the basis of democracy that we need to defend in our party,” she stressed.
When Pakatan Harapan won the 14th GE, she said she was offered to be appointed as a Minister.
“I refused because it was an appointment by the Prime Minister, in a cabinet that also included Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the then Deputy Prime Minister.
“I continued to perform my responsibilities in my constituency, focused on listening to and studying families affected by Covid-19 in 2021. “In fact, if I do win the position of Deputy President, I am not interested in a cabinet position.
“I am confident that those who read this statement rationally can distinguish between nepotism, which is being appointed by a family member for a position vs. a competition voted for by the grassroots,” she added. – May 9, 2025
