There is speculation that PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar may contest a parliamentary seat in the Federal Territories, with sources claiming she could move to her mother, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s Bandar Tun Razak constituency.
At least three PKR sources – from the Bandar Tun Razak branch, the Federal Territories state leadership council, and the party headquarters – told Malaysiakini that the daughter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could return to the capital in the 16th general election.
According to them, the move is seen as a two-pronged strategy: safeguarding the political career of the party deputy president from the risk of being left stranded in Permatang Pauh again, as happened in the previous polls, and protecting the political legacy of Anwar’s family.
One source claimed that Wan Azizah, now 73, is highly likely not to defend the seat, paving the way for her daughter.
“Kak Wan (Wan Azizah) has clearly indicated this will be her last term. She wants to rest and see (Nurul) Izzah return to Parliament through a more stable route.
“This decision is not just about family, but about party survival strategy. We cannot allow (Nurul) Izzah to be ‘stuck’ again in the conservative wave of the north.
“Bandar Tun Razak is the best to ensure the continuity of the reform struggle in the capital,” added the source from the party headquarters.
Logical choice
A Federal Territories PKR source stressed that the party’s history in Bandar Tun Razak makes it the most logical choice.
“Ever since the late (former PKR leader) Khalid Ibrahim’s time, this seat has symbolised PKR’s strength in the federal territories.
“Our winning record here has been consistent. With the influence of the branch chief, Azman Abidin, who is a close ally of the party president, (Nurul) Izzah’s path is expected to face minimal resistance,” he said.
When contacted, Azman welcomed the prospect.
“Insya-Allah. Of course. Bandar Tun Razak welcomes (Nurul) Izzah if she is interested in contesting here,” he said.
However, Azman declined to confirm or deny whether the PKR deputy president would contest the seat. Malaysiakini has also repeatedly contacted Nurul Izzah.
‘Giant killer’
Nurul Izzah, 46, first became an MP in 2008 after defeating then Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Jalil in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency and defended the seat in the 2013 general election.
In the 2018 general election, she moved to Penang to successfully defend her father’s stronghold of Permatang Pauh. However, she was defeated by PAS candidate Fawwaz Jan in the 2022 polls.
Bandar Tun Razak, with more than 120,000 voters, was won by Kamaruddin Jaafar in the 14th general election in 2018.
In 2022, Wan Azizah retained the seat for PKR with a majority of 9,817 votes in a three-cornered contest. The seat has been in PKR’s hands since 2008.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source from the Bandar Tun Razak PKR branch said that grassroots members consider Nurul Izzah to be her mother’s natural replacement.
“She is not a stranger and has often come down to assist Kak Wan’s (Wan Azizah) programmes here. (Nurul) Izzah is the future that will ensure Bandar Tun Razak remains our stronghold,” he added.
According to the party headquarters source, discussions on Nurul Izzah’s move to Bandar Tun Razak are not happening in isolation.
“It is part of PKR’s larger strategy for GE16, outlined in an internal party document titled ‘Strategic Analysis for GE16: Summary by Tier’, as reported by Malaysiakini,” he added.
The analysis, presented on May 2 to nearly 900 party leaders, shows PKR is in a cautious mode, struggling with erosion of dominance in key seats.
The review of 66 targeted parliamentary seats classifies constituencies into four tiers: Tier 1 (Strong/Safe) with seven seats, Tier 2A (Almost Strong) with 13 seats, Tier 2B (Marginal/Competitive) with 17 seats, and Tier 3 (Difficult/Recovery) with 29 seats.
Bandar Tun Razak is placed in Tier 2A, meaning it is an “almost strong” seat. - Mkini
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