Push for Malaysian PM’s daughter to become party No 2, raises nepotism and division concerns

Elevating Nurul Izzah poses a dilemma for PM Anwar Ibrahim, who has based his platform on principles of transparency, integrity, and a strong anti-corruption message

Malaysia’s ruling party is pushing for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter – Nurul Izzah – to contest to be his number two, in a race which appears to have caused a rift within the government.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), a key party in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition that anchors Anwar’s “Madani” government, will hold its central leadership elections on May 21, with all positions except the presidency available.

Party branches in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak and Pahang have backed the prime minister’s eldest daughter candidacy for the deputy presidency, a post currently held by Economics Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Nurul Izzah, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed her gratitude for the strong support.

“I shall make the best decision balancing between consensus, relationships and friendships, and meaningful change and reform for all members, she said.

Nurul Izzah, one of the party’s seven vice-presidents, has been a central figure in Anwar’s turbulent political journey and is revered by party members as the “Princess of Democracy”. However, she lost the family’s traditional stronghold of Permatang Pauh in Penang during the 2022 general election – a district she inherited from her father and later from her mother.

Selangor Chief Minister Amirudin Shari, who also chairs the state PKR chapter, said Nurul Izzah’s lack of parliamentary representation makes her an ideal candidate for the deputy presidency.

“Nurul Izzah is not new. She has fought since she was young, being the voice of the youth in a time full of hardship, being detained, insulted, but never leaving the field of struggle,” Amirudin said in a statement signed by 18 other state-level leaders.

Elevating Nurul Izzah presents a challenge for Anwar, who has built his platform on transparency, good governance and a staunch anti-corruption stance.

Her previous appointment as a senior adviser to the finance minister – a portfolio held by Anwar – sparked allegations of nepotism from the public, prompting her resignation after just six weeks.

However, Amirudin said her strength lies in her principles, not her lineage.

“This candidacy is not about inheriting a name, but about rebuilding a spirit. It is about new hope. About uniting the idealism of reform with the political reality of today,” he said.

Anwar has not commented on this matter.

The current deputy president, Rafizi Ramli, seen as a maverick within the party, took a four-day leave ending Monday to investigate discrepancies in April’s divisional elections, which saw many of his allies lose their posts amid claims of voting manipulation.

An independent report shared by Rafizi on Wednesday concluded that there were “a number of significant discrepancies and omissions” in the official audit. It identified several high-priority items in the original audit that compromised the “the trustworthiness of the election outcome”.

He added that since the same system will be used for the coming central election, these issues must be addressed quickly.

“We need to accept the fact that some of the controversies that have arisen as a result of this election – small or big – are being watched by the people,” Rafizi said.

He also welcomed the challenge from Nurul Izzah and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution for the post, noting that it should be celebrated in the spirit of democracy.