SHAH ALAM – The ongoing race between Nurul Izzah Anwar and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli for the role of Deputy President at Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) remains a focal point, with both candidates now embarking on tour campaigns nationwide.
The political party currently steering the government finds itself at a critical crossroads as it faces off between the merits and alleged shortcomings of these two leading personalities.
Nurul Izzah, currently a PKR Vice-President, has faced criticism over nepotism after agreeing to heed grassroots support to contest the Deputy President post in the upcoming term.
However, the credibility of the woman hailed as ‘Puteri Reformasi’ transcends the 'anak papa' (daddy’s girl) label given by certain quarters dissatisfied with current developments.
This acknowledgment came from PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP) member Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, who had earlier shown public backing for Nurul Izzah.
He stressed that the candidature of the ex-Permatang Pauh MP ought not to be doubted, considering her widely recognized contributions.
Nurul Izzah has garnered substantial backing from the local community. She has been an active party member for many years, even during her younger days.
"Over the course of her life, Nurul Izzah has consistently dedicated herself to the party’s mission of championing truth, justice, and unity. Her fortitude cannot be questioned," he stated to Sinar.
Asked about the challenges Nurul Izzah might face in her bid for the party’s number two position, Abdullah expressed confidence that attacks against her would not erode grassroots support.
Although acknowledging that there are weaknesses behind Nurul Izzah’s strengths, Abdullah declined to elaborate on them.
No one is devoid of flaws. Each person has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, as rational beings, our allegiance should be solely to Allah SWT.
"I don't view them as shortcomings; instead, I see them as areas for enhancement. Focusing on weaknesses only makes us weaker. However, adopting a positive outlook will yield positive outcomes," he stated.
According to political analyst Wong Chin Huat, both Nurul Izzah and Rafizi are youthful leaders possessing talent and charm, although they each have significant drawbacks.
Rafizi’s primary shortcoming lies in his inability to emphasize his technical expertise during his tenure as the Economic Minister. Serving within the coalition administration, he hasn’t managed to act as a strategic thinker or representative for PKR, failing to project PKR’s distinct character and attractiveness, along with motivating followers much like he did prior to the 15th General Election.
Nurul Izzah's primary shortcoming, conversely, lies in her defeat at Permatang Pauh in 2022 and the choice not to participate in the 2023 state elections.
"Without a recent performance history, her reasoning for joining the race can be quickly brushed aside using the story of the political dynasty," he stated.
Strengths of Their Own
Rafizi's primary shortcoming lies in his inability to emphasize his technical expertise as the Economy Minister. Serving as a cabinet member within the coalition administration, he hasn’t successfully acted as a strategic thinker or representative for PKR. He notably falls short in articulating the party’s distinctiveness and attractiveness, along with rallying support among followers like he did prior to the 15th General Election.
Nurul Izzah's primary shortcoming lies in her defeat at Permatang Pauh in 2022 and her choice not to participate in the 2023 state elections.
“Without a recent track record, her justification for contesting is easily dismissed by those pushing the political dynasty narrative,” he said.
Strengths of their own
Meanwhile, newly appointed Youth wing (AMK) chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, said that both candidates possess strengths, contributions and services to the party that cannot be denied.
However, he strongly asserted that these advantages should not be used as ammunition to attack any candidate offering themselves in this internal election.
“A number of us feel that Nurul Izzah’s current capabilities are well-suited for rallying members and maintaining party cohesion.”
He mentioned that she has experience helping the party and running election campaigns,
To clarify, the party saw impressive outcomes under Nurul Izzah’s leadership as the PKR Election Director for the 14th General Election (GE14), securing around 50 parliamentary seats.
Kamil highlighted that Rafizi also boasts significant experience and contributions to the party.
Thus, those who consider Nurul Izzah as the appropriate choice at present should utilize that support in their campaign efforts.
"If they think Rafizi possesses the capability, they ought to run their campaign on that basis and amplify Rafizi's message," he stated.
When asked about Rafizi's public criticism of fellow party members which might weaken his backing for the Deputy President role, Kamil stated that this issue ought to be decided by the discernment of the party members.
“I believe grassroots members are wise enough to make judgments based on current realities. We know how to evaluate the attitudes of our leaders today.
"So let us entrust the members' wisdom to make the most informed decisions for continuing our struggle and to fortify the organization," he stated.
Currently, both candidates are actively conducting campaign tours to engage with grassroots members in their bid for the Deputy President post. Both have been meeting party members alongside their respective teams.
If Rafizi doesn’t win the Deputy Presidency, then the Vice-President candidates allied with him might also lose, and this situation could similarly affect Nurul Izzah.
On Monday evening in Kedah, Rafizi employed a psychological strategy aimed at shifting blame towards Nurul Izzah. He implied that should ‘Puteri Reformasi’ face defeat, it would be seen as a denial of Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership as the president of PKR.
Could this be a case of reverse psychology employed by Rafizi aimed at the PKR delegates who will be casting their votes, or is there another explanation altogether?
In any case, the community members need to employ their judgment to understand the messages delivered by their leaders.
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