Nurul Izzah Anwar, eldest daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has taken a leave of absence from her position as deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to pursue further studies. She had initially offered to step down from the party’s second-highest role, but the central leadership council granted her leave instead. PKR vice-president and Malaysia’s home affairs minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, will act as deputy president during her absence.

In a statement on Thursday, August 6, Nurul Izzah, 45, said, "This decision was made after careful consideration, as (I) embark on a new chapter by pursuing further studies grounded in service and contribution, without necessarily being tied to the world of politics.”

Nurul Izzah was elected deputy president about 14 months ago, defeating incumbent Rafizi Ramli after a competitive internal party election. A former three-term Member of Parliament, she has maintained a relatively low profile during PKR’s recent campaigns for the Sabah, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor state elections held between November 2025 and August 1, 2026.

Political analyst Syaza Shukri told CNA that party sources indicated Nurul Izzah has differences in opinion from her father regarding the party’s direction and is unlikely to return to the deputy president role in the near term.

Lawyer Hassan, 75, commented, “In my opinion, she has the merit and the ability to lead as deputy president … However, that doesn't necessarily mean the public, or even people within the party, can easily accept what could be seen as having ‘two Anwars’ in the leadership — Anwar Ibrahim and Nurul Izzah Anwar.”

Separately, months before the end of his tenure, a senior party figure faced reports of personal shareholdings exceeding the RM100,000 limit for public servants and allegations of involvement with a “corporate mafia” pressuring businesses to avoid misconduct investigations.

Nurul Izzah’s leave marks a significant shift in PKR’s leadership dynamics as the party navigates internal challenges and upcoming political contests.

Sources