SOME PKR leaders vying for top posts have centred their campaigns on Anwar Ibrahim, the name synonymous with the party and its reform movement.

His eldest daughter PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said it is only natural that his name would be used as Anwar is a big presence and very relevant to the party. But, at the same time she also felt sad about it.

“At the end of the day, we need to stand on our own two feet. Members can judge that.

“The relevance of leaders is how they can offer something to the movement,” she told reporters at a Hari Raya Korban event at her Permatang Pauh service centre in Guar Perahu this afternoon.

Nurul Izzah said leaders must embrace their own strengths and not be so fixated about what it would take to get ahead.

“You can embrace your past or history and also garner strength in moving and building a better future.”

PKR was founded in 1998 after Anwar was sacked from his post as deputy prime minister. The struggles of the party centred around him, the reform movement and his freedom from persecution.

His wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the current deputy prime minister, has been PKR president for nearly 20 years.

She is not defending the presidency in the party polls to make way for Anwar to take the post unchallenged, the prelude to his return to the Dewan Rakyat and eventual appointment as the next prime minister.

His impending appointment has been used in the campaigns of several PKR leaders, especially deputy president hopeful Rafizi Ramli who had reportedly pledged to deliver his party boss to the top post.

Rafizi is challenging incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is said to be too close to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar and Dr Mahathir have both denied the existence of a plot to prevent the former from becoming the next prime minister and appoint Azmin instead.

As for her own campaign to defend her post in the party polls, Nurul Izzah says she has yet to start, as she has been busy with her work as MP and chairman of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Empowerment Committee.

But the campaign will start soon, she said, adding that it had always been challenging for her, being Anwar’s daughter.

“It has always been very challenging. It is not the first time I am campaigning with my father around. The last time was 2010, if I’m not mistaken.

“I made sure then that at the end of the day it was having my own position. I agree with him on many fronts. I also disagree with him. It’s an important tenet of a democratic institution.

“But yes, sometimes you wish you have a different last name.”

Nurul Izzah said she is very proud of her father and his convictions, and has promised that she will do her part and give her best in the campaign.

She said she wants to carry the agenda, keep the idealism alive and make sure it remains relevant to the people.

She said no matter what positions PKR leaders might hold, they must remain active reformists.

“It is also crucial to let the members know what we are trying to offer. It’s not just leadership per se, but also preserving idealism in a terrain that has always been fraught with challenges.

“For me, it is all about responsibility, not personal glory. It has been a challenge for 20 years. We learnt, slogged and suffered so much.

“It is crucial to always stay relevant to the people and offer people-centric solutions. The reform movement was vague when we started, but now it is about reducing inequality and fighting corruption. I am glad for that.”

Nurul Izzah also commented on outgoing PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad questioning the new party election campaign rules on crowd size.

PKR issued a circular on party election campaign ethics last Sunday, barring candidates from holding ceramah or large feasts with over 100 attendees. Candidates are also barred from appearing as a group when pictured on campaign materials.

Nik Nazmi, who is contesting for a position in the PKR central leadership council, said he might raise an objection with the party’s central election committee that the crowd restriction was impractical because the party polls involved more than 800,000 members who would be voting.

Nurul Izzah said Nik Nazmi’s views should be taken into consideration.

“We will use party channels to highlight certain matters that are seen as not helpful towards the campaign.

“The campaign is not going to be easy. We have to be practical. I am going to be quite blunt here. Sometimes, it involves something you can’t fulfil.

“PKR is also the first party to introduce direct voting. It is very challenging. We must ensure democracy empowers, not otherwise.” – August 24, 2018.