What are you trying to prove, grassroots ask Nurul Izzah

Looi Sue-Chern Looi Sue-Chern Updated 7 years ago · Published on 18 Dec 2018 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Many party members believe that Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar’s tweet on Sunday hitting out at Umno defectors is the reason she quit her party posts and government appointments. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 18, 2018.

PKR lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar’s sudden resignation from all party posts has puzzled the grassroots in Penang, said party insiders.

“Everyone is asking why she did it. Akar umbi pun pening (the grassroots are confused),” an insider told The Malaysian Insight following the Permatang Pauh MP’s bombshell statement yesterday.

Nurul Izzah quit as party vice-president, a post she retained after winning the most votes among all contenders, and as Penang party chief, a post she was just appointed on Sunday.

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”.

The insider said no one was convinced that Nurul Izzah merely wanted to focus on serving Permatang Pauh as MP, questioning the real reason she quit her posts.

“The excuse is not strong enough. If it is so, why take the trouble to contest in the elections? Why not just do NGO (non-governmental organisation) work?

“Grassroots members are unhappy with her decision. Nobody got the clear message. What are you (Nurul Izzah) trying to tell us? Are you just sending a message to the party leadership? Everything is unclear.”

The confusion and lack of understanding on her resignation are only causing speculations, which would create uncertainty in the party, the insider said.

He said Nurul Izzah’s social media posts on recent defections left people making assumptions and their own conclusions.

He was referring to her tweet on Sunday which stated: “Betrayal of mandate given the 9th of May, insults those who are loyal to the cause. Our party was attacked before by defections. Wouldn’t want that kind of pain and antics upon anyone else. There is no meaning to democracy if Malaysia is governed by elite based politicking.”

Though she mentioned no party, it is understood she meant the defections of MPs and members from Umno. Some have left to be independents while others have joined Pakatan Harapan parties Bersatu and Warisan, or waiting to join.

The defections have given rise to talk of a power struggle between Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of Bersatu and prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim of PKR, Nurul Izzah’s father.

“I would be lying if I say there is no internal conflict among the party leadership. Surely there had been disagreements about things… maybe on views and actions,” the insider said.

“But this ‘nampak tak cantik la’ (improper). She didn’t have to go as far as resigning from her posts. It makes things seem very serious.

“What are you (Nurul Izzah) trying to say? What’s the game here?”

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a thorny history prior to the their reconciliation ahead of GE14. There are now fears of a repeat of 1998 following Anwar's daughter's decision to quit her party posts. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 18, 2018.

Another Penang PKR man told The Malaysian Insight that there was much speculation about Nurul Izzah’s sudden resignation.

To him, among the “most logical” speculation was the Umno defections and the alleged power struggle between Dr Mahathir and Anwar, who is PKR president.

“Perhaps it is supposed to be a message to Dr Mahathir that he should keep his word (on Anwar taking over after two years).”

The PKR source said Anwar had long used his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is deputy prime minister and PKR advisory council chairman, in politics so he might be using his daughter now in his political manoeuvres.

The source said he believed Dr Mahathir has a positive impression of Nurul Izzah.

It was Nurul Izzah who had gone to London to convince the Bersatu chairman not to give up on PH last year when the new opposition alliance failed to agree on the candidate for prime minister ahead of the 14th general election.

Anwar was still in jail then. He was only released from prison with a royal pardon in May shortly after PH took over Putrajaya.

In October, Anwar contested and won the Port Dickson parliamentary seat, which was vacated for his return to the Dewan Rakyat.

“There is going to be a lot of drama in the coming week or two. It looks like a repeat of what happened in 1998,” the source said.

In 1998, Dr Mahathir was prime minister and Anwar his deputy until they had a falling out that saw the latter sacked, accused of corruption and sodomy, and jailed.

Anwar’s fall from grace started the reformasi movement and gave birth to PKR. – December 18, 2018.

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Comments

  • Drama drama

    Posted 7 years ago by Sharizal Shaarani · Reply

  • Anwar has been out maneuvered. Despite all the shenanigans in trying to weaken Azmin in the internal PKR elections, the bulk of his proxies lost.
    Can he really claim to have the mandate to lead his own party, let alone the nation?

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Why are people assuming Dr M will not give up his post in 2 years? Is it because Bersatu is attracting or open to umno defactors?
    Time and again the premier has said he will do his best in the 2 years or given time frame. He has also assured DSAI that the reigns will be handed over to him in 2 years..
    So why are people still being up the issue?
    The way it sounds, there are people behind DSAI who cant wait for DSAI to become the next premier so that their agendas can be fulfilled.. so what better way than to constantly remind the present premier ... 2 years, and no more.. 2 years...
    Presumably, these people may have certain plans-in-waiting to be executed.. business or otherwise.. I hope DSAI is not manipulated

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • The way for DSAI to secure his premiership is to get back into mainstream politics first... And that also means Wan Azizah resigning and DSAI take over as DPM.. Hes position is then strengthened, I mean just strengthened, over other ministers..
    But pride or ego or whatever, DSAI wants the escalation from MP to PM! Lets see how all this pans out..

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • This is called making a principled stand. Before she made this decision, there were already accusations of nepotism...etc..bla...bla...bla... It's a good call from her.

    Posted 7 years ago by Billy rave · Reply

  • Is the old man and daughter in sync or not? Is this a drama to test waters? If she's not happy, tell his old man. Is it not mostly the old man's political manoeuvring and policies?

    Posted 7 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • I have confidence that Tun will honour his promise. He just doesnt like people to second guess him.

    Posted 7 years ago by Derrick Tan · Reply

  • What we are seeing is that drama is played while the country is in despair and urgent need of proper governance. The devious politicians thinks that the country is theirs to play.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply