- Nurul Izzah Anwar, eldest daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, will take leave from her role as PKR's deputy president to pursue further studies. She had offered to step down but the central leadership council granted her a leave of absence.
- PKR vice-president Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who is Malaysia’s home affairs minister, will serve as acting deputy president.
- Nurul Izzah expressed confidence that Saifuddin and PKR vice-president Amirudin Shari would discharge their responsibilities with “intelligence, wisdom and perseverance”. She said she will continue as a PKR member and lend support for the struggle towards a better Malaysia, hoping to meet party members at PKR's national congress on Aug 15 and 16.
- In her statement, Nurul Izzah, 45, said the decision was made after careful consideration as she embarks on a new chapter pursuing further studies grounded in service and contribution, without necessarily being tied to the world of politics.
- A source close to Nurul Izzah told CNA she had disagreed with certain directions the party was taking and had faced “pressure from the party internally” to step aside. The source said she is principled on some issues and was not willing to shift on them.
- Political analyst Syaza Shukri told CNA that party sources have said Nurul Izzah has some differences in opinion from her father on the party’s direction, and that she is unlikely to return to the role as deputy president in the short term. Syaza added that she may have lost interest in the role.
Nurul Izzah Anwar, 45, announced her decision to take a leave from her deputy president role in PKR, stating, "This decision was made after careful consideration, as (I) embark on a new chapter by pursuing further studies grounded in service and contribution, without necessarily being tied to the world of politics."1245
The party's central leadership council granted her a leave of absence after she offered to step down. Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the home affairs minister, will act as deputy president during her absence. Nurul Izzah, who was elected about 14 months ago, faced allegations of nepotism due to her father's position as PKR president.3
A source close to her revealed that she had disagreements with the party's direction and felt internal pressure to step aside. “She is principled on some issues, and was not willing to shift on them,” the source stated. Despite stepping back, Nurul Izzah affirmed her commitment to PKR, expressing confidence in her colleagues' abilities and stating, “I will continue as a member of (PKR), and lend support for the struggle towards a better Malaysia.” Analysts suggest that her relatively low profile in recent party campaigns and differences in opinion with her father may indicate a diminished interest in returning to her deputy role soon.
Political analyst Syaza Shukri noted, “(For now), she may have lost interest (in the role),” highlighting the complexities of her position within the party.910
“A source close to Nurul Izzah said she faced "pressure from the party internally" and disagreed with certain directions, while political analyst Syaza Shukri noted she may have lost interest in the role. She will continue as a PKR member and hopes to attend the party's national congress on Aug 15 and 16.”
