The Reformasi princess Malaysia grew up with

Nurul Izzah Anwar has had the misfortune, if one can call it such, of being seen through the optics of her parents. Since 1998, when she was thrust into the national limelight, she has always been seen as the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim who wants to fight the good fight.

Since May 9, 2018, after Pakatan Harapan was elected as the government of the day, her mother's role as the deputy prime minister became the lens through which Nurul is seen too.

Yet, many forget, politics is a contact sport. In Malaysia, it is almost like a blood sport, with "murders most foul," as Hamlet once said. People get taken away in the middle of the night, a single mother from a faraway land (Mongolia) is blown into smithereens, and above all, you have a former prime minister, who amid all forms of corruption taking place in the country, can stay mum from the comfort and luxury of his home.

When things are formed from sheer squalor, it makes you want to ask: Is it all worth it? It appears that Nurul, who is known as the Princess of Reformasi, has decided to turn the optics on contemporary Malaysia.

Her resignation from all positions and posts in PKR and the federal government is probably a roar of disbelief over what has been taking place in recent months, if not weeks. 

Wave after wave of defections in Umno, as if the only meaning of being in politics, is to be on the winning side, bar none.

Nurul's sudden resignations show that winning, in politics at least, does not necessarily mean raising a trophy above one's head, or wearing many hats by holding powerful posts.

Rather, Nurul demonstrates what Max Weber called the politics of (deep) conviction over vocation. Politics come from what you truly believe to be right, just and fair. They certainly do not come from the expressed desire to hold as many posts as possible with the attempt to knock down your opponents like bowling pins for a perfect strike.

There are three strategic ramifications in Nurul's resignations, if they are not reversed in the course of the coming days and weeks, that is.

Her millions of supporters and followers on social media would be outraged. Not over her resignations, but the circumstances in the country that led to her decision. They would not be asking why, but they would know something is seriously wrong in Malaysia post-May 9 that has warranted her to take such a step.

Coming on the heels of the rivalry between PKR’s two factions (former vice-president Rafizi Ramli and deputy president Azmin Ali), there would be no benefit of the doubt for those against Nurul’s strategic ally, Rafizi, who is also a competent policy analyst and leader.

Second, Nurul’s resignation would signal to all Malaysians, that she is not beholden to any trappings of office. The nomenclature that politicians would only pursue their own interests, not that of the country, would be completely broken.

If she can maintain these standards of self-abstinence, it would mean that more and more Malaysians would be inspired by her act of courage.

Those with devious plans on reaping and raping the state in this new government would have to have to reevaluate the extent to which their pliant officers can stay in office.

Third, many of those who are determined to stay in power, by corrupt means, often forget that human outrage can reach a tipping point.

Rosa Parks was just a simple old lady. She refused to give up her bus seat which was meant for whites. Her one simple act of rebellion as a black person, against the segregation of coloured people, paved the way for the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King and empowered further by Malcolm X. Both of them were assassinated but their bravery inspired the likes of President Barack Obama in 2008.

Nurul has put her foot down in a manner not dissimilar to Rosa Parks.

What we are witnessing here is not a bus coming to a stop. But history being given a strong push to move forward. Nurul has done the country a great service. And she did not even have to refer to her parents.

Malaysia is full of Nuruls, in more ways than one; which is why May 9 had always been a possibility and was eventually actualised. And, if we can have May 9, what is there to prevent us from having a second liberation?

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PHAR KIM BENG was a multiple award-winning Head Teaching Fellow on China and Cultural Revolution in Harvard University. - Mkini