Nurul Izzah details dreams of a PKR immune to factions and 'hidden hands'

Former Permatang Pauh Parliamentary candidate Nurul Izzah Anwar succeeded Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) president Hang Tuah Jaya in a party election last May. As she is set to take a break from the role today, she reflects on the criticism she has faced since her loss in the 2022 General Election (PRU15). Some argue her defeat in her family's traditional seat of Permatang Pauh is unacceptable, while others are outraged by her victory as the vice president in 2023.

To some, it is unacceptable that she lost in 2022 (PRU15); to others, it is not acceptable that she won in 2025 (party election), and to others, they simply cannot accept that she will leave in 2026. Nurul Izzah, a three-term MP, lost in Permatang Pauh during the 2022 (PRU15) election to PAS candidate Fawwaz Jan, who won by a margin of 5,272 votes.

Permatang Pauh is considered the family seat of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, held by him, his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and their daughter Nurul Izzah since 1982. She succeeded Pakatan Rakyat's president Hang Tuah Jaya in May this year, taking over from former deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who has since become the Minister of Economy and MP for Pandan.

Nurul Izzah announced her decision to step down from her role as the party's deputy leader last week, following the party's congress, in order to continue her career.