PERMATANG Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will serve her final term as a federal lawmaker, she said in an interview with Singapore’s The Sunday Times.

Nurul Izzah said her first year as a government backbencher has been “turbulent and tumultuous”.

“This is my final term. That’s my plan now,” she told the newspaper.

Nurul Izzah, who in December quit her post as PKR vice-president, also told the paper she has been dismayed at the crossover of lawmakers from the former ruling Barisan Nasional pact into Pakatan Harapan.

“It’s a horrible predicament, not just for Keadilan (but) for Malaysia, for their voters, for our voters, for Malaysians as a whole.

“It’s just a sad state of affairs because I believe that a two-coalition system is important for the future of Malaysia.”

On Friday, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that Nurul Izzah has resigned from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), days after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to allow PAC chairman Ronald Kiandee to remain in the post despite the Beluran MP no longer being an opposition lawmaker.

Nurul Izzah, as well as Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, were among PH lawmakers to speak out against Dr Mahathir’s announcement.

In her interview with The Sunday Times, Nurul Izzah also noted that polarisation of races and religions has been increasing since the 14th general election and that PH must do more to strengthen the middle-ground instead of emboldening racial and religious extremists.

“We’re not doing enough to embolden the middle. We’re not doing enough to embolden those who are considered moderate,” she was quoted as saying.

The daughter of Anwar Ibrahim, who is slated to take over from Dr Mahathir next year, said Malaysia needed more selfless leaders fighting for the right ideals.

“It’s not about you. So when you realise what’s at stake, then you have a certain degree of clarity of thought, and you understand that it requires not just one man or woman but an entire generation within the cabinet, to power and realise those ideals,” she said.

“That’s what Malaysia needs, that’s what any country needs. And you see this crisis that’s taking place everywhere, it’s just horrifying, it’s just horrifying.” – March 24, 2019.