PUTRAJAYA – Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has dismissed claims by Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli that the defeat of Nurul Izzah Anwar in the PKR deputy president race would reflect poorly on the party or signal a rejection of its president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Saifuddin, who is also the Secretary-General of Pakatan Harapan (PH), explained that the contest for the post was solely between the incumbent, Rafizi, and his challenger, Nurul Izzah, with no wider implications beyond that.
He further stated that the 29,000 party members who will vote in the upcoming PKR election on May 24 are carefully considering the narrative before making their decision.
“I don’t see it that way, that Nurul Izzah’s rejection means a rejection of Anwar. The existence of the party (PKR) is due to the events that happened to him (Anwar),” he said.
He continued by referencing the 11 years Anwar spent in prison, highlighting the personal sacrifices the president had endured, including being slandered and humiliated.
“During that time, he (Anwar) was imprisoned for 11 years. No one has gone through such things as he has,” Saifuddin added during a press conference following the Ministry of Home Affairs’ monthly gathering today.
In response to Rafizi’s call for party members to vote for Nurul Izzah as deputy president, Saifuddin described it as “unique.”
“I followed his speech, and Rafizi gave his reasons for contesting for the deputy president’s role. At the same time, he is urging members to support Nurul Izzah,” Saifuddin remarked.
“What’s unique in PKR is that you can run against someone, yet still ask the delegates to support them. You don’t see that in other political parties, but that’s how it is in PKR,” he added.
Earlier, during a series of talks in Kulim, Kedah, Rafizi encouraged PKR delegates to elect Nurul Izzah, the former Permatang Pauh MP, as deputy president. He argued that if she lost, it could create a narrative suggesting that party members were rejecting Anwar’s leadership.
Rafizi acknowledged that the victory of Nurul Izzah would be the only fair outcome in this election, even though some grassroots members may have differing views.
He also stated that ensuring her loss was the only way for him to become the new deputy president, despite her being the Prime Minister’s daughter.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin explained that his decision not to contest the PKR deputy president role was made in the party’s best interests.
“As a founding member of the party, I want to see it remain strong and stable, especially since this election is taking place while PKR is in government,” he said.
He emphasised that his approach to the internal election was not “us versus them,” but rather a spirit of “we are together.”
“The best decision for me was not to participate in this election. My priority is to maintain stability and unity within the party. That’s what I’m focused on,” Saifuddin concluded. – May 13, 2025.