Catching everyone by surprise, Nurul Izzah Anwar, the vice-president of PKR, suddenly made a statement announcing her resignation from her position in the PKR today, December 17. Moreover, Nurul has also said that she is ending federal service completely.
Nurul, who had helmed a special task force for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), is the daughter of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. She is a Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh, and will also be stepping down from her post as chairperson of Penang PKR.
Nurul, who had gotten the highest number of votes for the vice-presidency of PKR, tendered her resignation amidst allegations of favoritism and nepotism against the ruling party.
She did, however, clarify that she would stay in her post as a legislator until the end of her term, during the next general elections, as well as stay in the PKR.
In her statement, she mentioned her regret at postponing stepping down this long and said, “Now that I have had the chance to take stock of where I stand in relation to politics, I am resolved to doing the right thing.”
The actual reason for her stepping down was not overly made in her statement, but alluded to by Nurul as she said that there are “beliefs and ideals I hold dear and I feel that I can be most true to them by taking this course of action I am now announcing”.
Here is her statement in full:
The 9th of May has been a watershed for many reasons. A peaceful transition at federal power took place and Malaysians saw the enlargement of their democratic space for reforms to be initiated.
To what end will come the successful completion of the promised reform agenda by Pakatan Harapan remains to be seen – as such, it remains crucial that all stakeholders continue pressing for the fulfilment of the reforms, as well as the continuation of policies and programmes of the previous government if proven to be beneficial for the rakyat.
My journey in politics began in 1998 – more as a political awakening, and eventually as part of the central leadership of the People’s Justice Party. I thank the members of Keadilan for according me the opportunity to serve them all this while.
There are beliefs and ideals I hold dear and I feel that I can be most true to them by taking this course of action I am now announcing.
I am resigning as vice-president of the People’s Justice Party, and relinquishing my appointment as the chair of Keadilan Penang. The leadership has been informed of my decision.
My work as an elected representative for the people of Permatang Pauh and as a legislator will continue until my term expires. I will also remain as an ordinary member of Keadilan.
I will also no longer serve the federal government in any capacity. I leave the decision as to my role in the Penang state-level government-linked companies to the party leadership.
I remain a member of the parliamentary backbench committed to reforms. I also leave to the leadership the decision as to my status as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). I had earlier relinquished my post as chair of the Bills Committee in favor of the PAC.
But I will continue my advocacy work as an ordinary citizen and Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.
My only regret is that I should have made this announcement sooner, but it has not been an easy decision to arrive at. The pace of political developments has been relentless for the last nine months, with party elections following a grueling general election campaign.
Now that I have had the chance to take stock of where I stand in relation to politics, I am resolved to doing the right thing.
I wish the leadership and the party the very best.”
Nurul’s resignation seems to have taken both Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali by surprise.
The Malaysian Prime Minister told reporters at a dialogue organised by Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), “I don’t know, she must have her reasons. I don’t know anything about what is happening to PKR.”
At the same event, Azmin said, “I just learned about it this morning. I will try to talk to her and understand what really happened. I have nothing else to comment.”
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