Keen battle for PKR's No. 2 post rocks Anwar's party

Nurul Izzah's bid to unseat incumbent Rafizi Ramli sparks murmurs of dynastic politics

- Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is at a defining moment 26 years after its founding, as the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim bids to unseat incumbent Rafizi Ramli for the No. 2 spot at its internal elections, amping up murmurs of nepotism into vociferous criticisms.

The move has sparked talk not only of dynastic politics but also hypocrisy, given PKR's own record of accusing Malaysia's longest-serving leader Mahathir Mohamad of favouring his children in politics and business.

Founded in 1998 as the political vehicle to defend Datuk Seri Anwar soon after his sacking as Malaysia's deputy prime minister, PKR has seen its president win a third term uncontested — his first as the country's prime minister but also his final three-year stint, according to party rules.

Thus, the question of succession has come into focus in the leadership polls that were supposed to be a relatively benign affair. Mr Anwar and his allies had until March proposed that the top two posts go uncontested.

But the keen battle for the No. 2 position after Ms Nurul Izzah Anwar's entry and controversy over shock losses suffered by a string of candidates aligned to Mr Rafizi, 47, in recent divisional elections, have destabilised PKR and the multi-coalition government it leads, after a relatively calm two-year period for Malaysian politics.

Economy Minister Rafizi has himself upped the ante with threats to quit the Cabinet, both prior to the May 23 vote and if he fails to defend the deputy presidency he won just before the 2022 general election. At that party polls, his slate of candidates took the lion's share of central leadership positions against those seen to be endorsed by Mr Anwar.