Lepaskanlah Nurul Izzah

Nurul Izzah Anwar has expressed her desire to step down from her role as the vice presidential candidate for PKR, according to PKR's chief spokesperson, Fahmi Fadzil, in a formal party statement. However, Fahmi explained that the PKR Central Leadership Council decided to grant Nurul Izzah a "temporary leave" instead. The decision came after the council listened to her views shared by a former Permatang Pauh MP.

The question arises: why grant a leave to a person who wishes to resign? Yes, PKR feels Nurul Izzah is still needed and can continue to make significant contributions to the party. Nevertheless, her desire to resign suggests that she might no longer be enthusiastic about the role. Nurul Izzah certainly has a reason for her wish, and I believe it is best to allow her to pursue it.

She must be permitted to resign, even though it is painful for PKR. Yesterday evening, PKR officially released her vice presidential position following careful consideration to enable her to continue her further studies and embark on a new step in her life. When someone declares a desire to resign or, more accurately, a job change, it indicates that their heart is no longer with the position.

So be it Nurul Izzah. Perhaps she has already softened her heart. Therefore, respect her wish and grant her a full resignation. There's no need to coax or force her to stay, granting her a leave. The question now is, will she return fully recharged and ready to continue the challenging responsibilities as the party's vice presidential candidate?

Maybe. Usually, after a vacation, we feel energized and rejuvenated. But it may not be the case for everyone. So the question remains: will Nurul Izzah return with full enthusiasm after taking a leave? According to Fahmi, the decision to resign is not disappointing. She had previously defeated Rafizi Ramli in the party's May 2021 elections, leaving her somewhat disheartened.

Maybe disappointment? As vice president, she also competes for the role of PKR's election chief. However, the party eventually decided to appoint Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to share this responsibility with Nurul Izzah. Now, the election chief role is fully managed by Amirudin Shaari, one of the party's vice-presidents. Although I acknowledge Nurul Izzah's desire not to be disappointing, I can't help but feel that all that transpired during the last PKR election, particularly the competition for the vice presidential position, has left a lasting impact.

The entire nation witnessed the aftermath of that election, primarily the internal party rifts, conflicts, and divisions. The consequences are still felt today. PKR fractured, and a new party, Bersatu, was born under the leadership of Rafizi Ramli. After all that, Nurul Izzah wants to resign from a position that many have fought for, ensuring her victory.

Isn't that just a waste? And the timing? There is no perfect timing to announce a resignation wish. But it could not have been a worse time for PKR to reveal her intention. Her announcement came at a time when PKR was at its lowest ebb. The morale was low. The People's Justice Party (PH) is also facing challenges. It is facing internal party conflicts with a seemingly hostile government.

Nurul Izzah's leave will commence after the 2026 National PKR Congress. She will inaugurate the Women and Youth Congress on August 14th. What message will she deliver? What advice and motivational words can she provide, given her desire to resign? Although stepping down from the vice presidential position is neither a party nor a political matter, it is significant.

For Ilham Centre Executive Director Hisomuudin Bakar, Nurul Izzah's decision was appropriate. During her tenure as vice president, he found her not very effective. "Nurul Izzah may have helped behind the scenes, but the general public did not feel it," he stated. "She should be able to function more effectively to help the government, but the opportunity was missed," Hisomuudin added.

Now, Hisomuudin advises PKR to quickly prepare a strategy as they prepare for the 2016 general election. A lot is at stake. No need to overanalyze. Everyone knows.