“Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.“
– Margaret Thatcher, UK prime minister from 1979 to 1990
THE recent PKR party elections may have sent tremors through the party’s ranks, but what the outcome truly signals is a call for renewal; more importantly, a call for unity.
Nurul Izzah Anwar’s victory over Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli for the party’s No. 2 post has generated both excitement and concern.
For her supporters, it is a long-awaited changing of the guard, specifically a new blood to chart a fresh course as the party prepares itself for the 16th General Election (GE16).
For others, especially those who backed Rafizi, it might feel like a loss that hit deeper than just votes.
Yet this is precisely why party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must now step in with wisdom, sensitivity and leadership.
The ballots have been cast, and the delegates have spoken. It is no longer the time for factionalism. It is a time to heal, rebuild and march forward with a renewed sense of purpose.
The numbers are clear. Nurul Izzah received 9,803 votes, more than double Rafizi’s 3,866. A landslide by any measure, but not a complete rout.
Rafizi still commands significant support among grassroots members. He is, after all, a veteran of over two decades in the party and one of its most articulate, strategic minds. His contributions, from shaping policy frameworks to strengthening electoral machinery, cannot and must not be discounted.
Indeed, Nurul Izzah’s win was no act of dynastic privilege. Despite predictable murmurs of nepotism from detractors, especially those aligned with PAS and Perikatan Nasional, it is widely accepted, even by many in Rafizi’s camp, that she won on merit.
The sentiment on the ground pointed to a hunger for new energy and idealism within the party. Her victory marks the party’s attempt to balance pragmatism with principle, experience with empathy.
As political analyst Datuk Prof. Dr Awang Azman Pawi observed, the outcome represents “a blend of tradition and modernity, and a form of strategic unity”.
Another seasoned observer, Prof James Chin of the University of Tasmania wisely advised Rafizi not to walk away, but to remain in the party and in government. The Rafizi-Nurul Izzah pairing, he noted, could well become PKR’s greatest asset heading into GE16.
Now, more than ever, the responsibility rests on Anwar’s shoulders to bridge the gap between competing camps.
PKR ex-secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it best when he reminded the party leadership that some wounds, though not visible, run deep.
“Some voted for Nurul Izzah, and some are for Rafizi. There are bound to be those who are ‘terbakar hati’ (hurting inside), and we can’t always see it,” he said.
This is no small matter. Political contests, especially internal ones, often leave behind bitterness and bruised egos. But PKR must now prioritise reconciliation over rivalry.
PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang has voiced confidence that those who lost in the polls will continue to serve the party.
“It’s a friendly match,” he said, adding that defeat should not translate into disengagement.
That must be the prevailing spirit. No one individual is larger than the party.
Rafizi, a committed reformist, will no doubt rise above personal disappointment. If anything, his resilience and loyalty will be tested now, and the measure of his statesmanship will be on how he navigates the post-election landscape.
There have been whispers of a potential split. But the Rafizi we know is unlikely to abandon ship. He is too invested in the reform agenda and too seasoned to let a momentary setback eclipse two decades of struggle.
The road to internal cohesion starts with honest dialogue. Anwar and the PKR leadership must engage all stakeholders – winners and losers alike – in open forums to clear misunderstandings, mend strained relations, and craft a forward-looking roadmap.
These engagements must be transparent and inclusive, avoiding any appearance of elitism or factional bias.
The perception of Nurul Izzah’s win as a reward for familial ties must be actively and intelligently countered. This isn’t about censorship; it’s about clarity.
The party must highlight her track record, her policy vision, and her contributions to the Reformasi movement dating back to the early 2000s. The electorate, especially younger voters, need to see that she stands on her own merit, not her father’s shadow.
But let us not dwell excessively on the nepotism narrative. It is, after all, an opposition talking point designed to sow doubt.
The ‘cai’ (line-up) system which many rejected in this election is proof that party members are capable of independent judgment. PKR voters have matured, and they demand substance over surname.
The priority for PKR now must be to consolidate, not splinter. The party has often been its own worst enemy, weakened more by internal squabbles than external threats.
GE16 looms on the horizon, and with it comes a crucial question: is PKR ready?
Nurul Izzah must now play a central role in preparing the party for that battle. Her appeal among younger voters, especially those born after Reformasi, positions her uniquely to craft a youth-centric campaign narrative.
Her voice carries the moral weight of the party’s reform credentials, and if she teams up effectively with Rafizi, they could galvanise a new generation of voters disillusioned with old-style politics.
The combination of Rafizi’s technocratic depth and Nurul Izzah’s empathetic leadership could become the winning formula for PKR. Their different but complementary styles mirror the balancing act the party needs: idealism tempered by policy, passion anchored in pragmatism.
Internally, the party must now embark on serious reforms, beyond the rhetoric. Leadership selection must be transparent. Disciplinary measures must be fair but firm. GLC and government appointments must be merit-based, not favour-based. The spirit of Reformasi must permeate not just speeches but systems.
On a more personal note, I believe we are witnessing the political rise of someone truly exceptional.
Nurul Izzah is young, intelligent, principled and, importantly, relatable to the aspirations of Malaysia’s youth. Give her time, and she may well be prime ministerial material.
Malaysia, after all, has never had a woman prime minister. The glass ceiling in our politics is thicker than most.
Even corporate Malaysia, with all its gender-inclusive rhetoric, has done better in this regard.
In politics, power is still a man’s game, and even the most capable women have been boxed in.
Remember the backlash when her mother, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was floated as a candidate for Selangor’s Menteri Besar? Or how Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, dynamic and outspoken as she was, never rose beyond Wanita Umno chief?
It is a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go.
And yet, the tide may be turning.
From Corazon Aquino to Indira Gandhi, from Benazir Bhutto to Yingluck Shinawatra, women in Asia have shown that they can not only lead, but lead decisively. Malaysia deserves no less.
Nurul Izzah may well be our answer to a long-overdue question: can a woman truly lead this nation?
If PKR positions itself wisely, she could be the one to prove the doubters wrong.
At this crossroads, PKR stands between promise and peril. The outcome of the party polls offers a moment of renewal, but only if wisely managed.
Anwar must play the role of unifier-in-chief, ensuring that his daughter’s victory becomes a source of collective pride, not a wedge of division.
Rafizi must stay the course, knowing that his talents are indispensable. Nurul Izzah must prove her mettle not just with rhetoric but results. And the party, as a whole, must rise above petty rivalry and return to its core mission: reform, justice, and service to the rakyat.
The clock ticks toward GE16. The electorate is watching. History waits for no one.
Will PKR seize this moment?
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com
