THE central PKR leadership must be held responsible for Nurul Izzah Anwar’s sudden resignation as party vice-president, state and Permatang Pauh chief, the division said today.

Division deputy head Dr Afif Bahardin said grassroots members had been shocked by her announcement and now needed the leadership’s guidance.

“I believe her decision may be due to unhappiness and disappointment over PKR’s direction and the current internal political scenario,” he said at a press conference in Permatang Pauh today, without elaborating.

“We urge the party’s top leadership to take proactive measures to reform consensus and member confidence in PKR after the party elections this year. 

“The leadership has to be inclusive and open in ensuring the continuity of the reform agenda and PKR,” he said.

In a statement earlier today, Nurul Izzah said she had informed the party of her decision to drop her party posts and will focus instead on being a government backbencher committed to reforms.

“My work as elected representative for the people of Permatang Pauh and as a legislator will continue until my term expires. I will also remain as an ordinary member of PKR.”

She also said she would leave it to the party leadership to decide on her state-level roles in companies linked to the Penang government, adding that she would also no longer serve the federal government “in any capacity”.

Her announcement comes as rival Umno has lost elected reps, who were becoming independents or joining Bersatu, a PKR ally in Pakatan Harapan. 

She yesterday tweeted her displeasure at the possibility of PH accepting crossovers from Umno, calling it a betrayal of the people’s trust.

The defections given rise to talk of a power struggle between PH’s titans – Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of Bersatu and prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim of PKR. 

Dr Afif, who was formerly national PKR Youth deputy chief, said he did not know what impact Nurul Izzah’s resignations would have on the party as she had only just announced her decision. 

He also said he did not know what exactly triggered her decision, saying that it might have been caused by a series of events, leaving her disappointed with the party’s direction. 

“It could not have been spontaneous, and I don’t think she did it because she was pressured to do so. 

“I also don’t think she quit as state chairman because of Latheefa Koya’s statement,” the Seberang Jaya assemblyman said. 

Latheefa, a PKR member and outspoken rights lawyer, said in a statement earlier today that party president Anwar practised cronyism and nepotism in selecting state party chiefs. 

Nurul Izzah, who was just named Penang PKR chief yesterday, is Anwar’s eldest daughter. 

On who would replace Nurul Izzah as state chief, Dr Afif said there was no new appointment yet. 

“That is not the main concern. What’s most important is to address why she made this decision despite being a popularly elected vice-president,” he said. 

In the recent PKR polls, Nurul Izzah retained the vice-president’s post with the highest number of votes. 

Dr Afif said he had spoken to Izzah earlier to convey his views on the matter, but declined to divulge what they discussed. 

“It’s our private discussion. Let us leave it at that for now. It is up to her to respond. 

“It is also up to the top leadership to address the issue.” – December 17, 2018.