SHOCK RESIGNATION AS PKR V-P, PENANG CHAIRMAN
NURUL IZZAH QUITS BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO ‘STAY TRUE TO BELIEFS AND IDEALS’ DR M IN THE DARK, SAYS SHE MUST HAVE HER OWN REASONS LATHEEFA KOYA SAYS APPOINTMENT OF STATE CHIEFS SMACKS OF CRONYISM
NURUL Izzah Anwar dropped a bombshell yesterday, announcing her resignation as PKR vice-president, as well as relinquishing her post as Penang PKR chairman.
Nurul Izzah, who is the daughter of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, announced that she would no longer serve the federal government in any capacity.
She was the head of the government’s Technical and Vocational Education Training task force.
She said she had informed party leaders of her decision.
“May 9 has been a watershed for many reasons. A peaceful transition of federal power took place and Malaysians saw the enlargement of their democratic space for reforms to be initiated.
“To what end will come of the successful completion of the promised reform agenda by Pakatan Harapan remains to be seen. As such, it remains crucial that stakeholders continue pressing for the fulfilment of the reforms, as well as the continuation of policies and programmes of the previous government, if proven to be beneficial for the people.
“My journey in politics began in 1998 — more as a political awakening and eventually as part of the central leadership of the People’s Justice Party. I thank Keadilan members for giving me the opportunity to serve them. There are beliefs and ideals I hold dear and I feel that I can be most true to them by taking this action.”
Nurul Izzah said she would remain Permatang Pauh member of parliament, as well as a member of the parliament backbench committee for reforms.
“My work as elected representative for the people of Permatang Pauh and as a legislator will continue until my term expires. I will remain a member of Keadilan. I will no longer serve the federal government. I leave the decision as to my role in Penang state-level governmentlinked companies to the party leadership.
“I remain a member of the parliamentary backbench committed to reforms. I leave to the leadership the decision as to my status as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). I had earlier relinquished my post as Chair of the Bills Committee in favour of PAC.”
She did not state any reason for her decision, but said she should have made the announcement sooner.
“My only regret is that I did not make this announcement sooner. It was not an easy decision.
“The pace of political developments has been relentless for the last nine months, with party elections following a grueling general election campaign. Now that I have the chance to take stock of where I stand in politics, I am resolved to doing the right thing. I wish the leadership and the party the best.”
In a tweet, she asked Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chief strategist Datuk Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff to “kindly refrain from ever commenting on my behalf”. Rais Hussin had tweeted that he believed Nurul Izzah would retract her resignation, calling her a strong person committed to holistic reforms but “as strong as Nurul is, (she) is still susceptible to periods of ups and downs”.
Her resignation comes only a day after she was announced as the state PKR chairman, replacing Nibong Tebal parliamentarian Datuk Mansor Othman.
PKR previously announced the appointments of 13 leadership council chairmen, namely for Perak, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Sabah, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Johor, Terengganu, Perlis, Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang and Sarawak.
PKR member Latheefa Koya lashed out at the appointments, saying they were based on factions and were “disturbing, and a cause for concern”.
She said, with the exception of Sarawak and Selangor, the appointed state chiefs were regarded as being aligned to one of PKR’s two factions, and thus tantamount to cronyism, which could harm its reform agenda.
She claimed that in Pahang and Sabah, selected candidates did not initially have the majority support among state division chiefs. The division chiefs, she claimed, “changed their support” after being summoned to meet the party president.
She said in Johor, Negri Sembilan and Selangor, the president chose candidates who did not have the support of the majority of division chiefs.
Latheefa questioned the appointment of the Kelantan chief, saying that he was, until recently, an Umno member and had been suspended over accusations of money politics.
She took issue with Nurul Izzah’s appointment, labelling it inappropriate given that her father is PKR president.
“It is needless to say that the practice of appointing close relatives to important positions should have no place in a reformist party.”
She said even though the party president had the authority to select state chiefs in consultation with division chiefs, it was “highly unusual” and against the party constitution for the president to ignore the majority’s preference.
“PKR needs to realise that it is part of the federal government, charged with no less a task than instituting reforms and properly governing the nation. Hence, it must uphold the highest and best democratic practices. After a scandal-ridden and disgraceful party election process, the appointments only further erode public regard and confidence in PKR.”