Two years after resigning, Nurul says will help PKR but will avoid politicking

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who two years ago resigned as PKR vice- president and limited her attendance at public political functions, today made an appearance at an event held by crisis-hit Wanita PKR and made a commitment to strengthen the party.

However, she refused to engage in a political debate over Pakatan Harapan's prime ministerial candidate, stating that she will leave that to other politicians.

"To me, that is not relevant. I returned to my duty to strengthen the party machinery.

"As for the rest, let the politicians entertain such matters," she told journalists at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

She was asked about her thoughts on Harapan's prime ministerial candidate amid a deadlock between disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and her father Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PKR president.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal has emerged as an alternative candidate but PKR did not appear to be receptive to this.

Nurul Izzah had in December 2018 resigned as the PKR vice-president, just a month after she was elected to the position with the most votes in the party election.

"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 that I am now announcing," she had said in her resignation statement.

Azmin (left) with Anwar

She also withdrew her involvement in the government and following that was seldom seen at public political events.

Nurul Izzah did not provide further details on why she resigned but the party had been plagued by factional fighting which culminated in the collapse of the Harapan government in late February this year.

Former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who had been in a feud with Anwar, led 10 MPs out the party and joined forces with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin who had pulled his party out of the Harapan government.

Together, they formed the new Perikatan Nasional government comprising Bersatu, PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star.

The split has badly hit the Wanita PKR with its deputy Daroyah Alwi quitting to become PN-friendly while its chief Haniza Talha, who had been building a women's NGO linked to a future new political party by Azmin, was sacked.

The party is expected to fill the top two positions in Wanita PKR soon.

Earlier today, the wing launched its "Regenerasi Wanita" (Women's Regeneration) programme. - Mkini