What the Rafizi-Nurul Izzah contest means to me

Free Malaysia Today

20-05-2025

In some ways, it is very difficult for a hardcore reformist like me to write this article, whether on behalf of PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli or appointed vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
For me, Nurul Izzah was the shining beacon of the Reformasi movement, alongside her mother, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, following Anwar Ibrahim's incarceration.
In the first 10 years of Reformasi, Wan Azizah and Nurul Izzah were the only conscience and morality of a sick nation.
I came to know and eventually admire Rafizi in 2018 when he began campaigning from lorries until his voice became hoarse, an approach he continued to adopt until Barisan Nasional was toppled after 61 years in power.
Then, in 2022, I thought PKR was done for, but Rafizi again stepped up, returning from a sabbatical he took in 2018 to almost lead Pakatan Harapan to victory in the last general election.
Anwar also played his part, of course, touring the country at 70 for a chance to be at the helm.
Unfortunately the tide turned against Nurul Izzah when PAS, via fear mongering and fanning race and religious issues, wrestled Permatang Pauh away from her.
For me, the contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah is proof that PKR has two very strong future leaders of Malaysia.
However, when their candidacy was announced, pundits were quick to create several simplistic analyses and narratives.
One narrative painted a picture of PKR as a party being broken by a challenge featuring the member of a dynasty and an ambitious incumbent.
Another opined that Nurul Izzah was an Anwar proxy against Rafizi, who has come to be known for his management skills.
It is a clash of ideologies, one that pits Anwar's old 'Reformis Melayu' style against Rafizi's corporate ideals.
A third narrative suggests that infighting between the leaders in PKR will probably be disastrous not only for the coalition but also the country.
Well, I wish to paint a very different picture. My picture is that of hope and anticipation that this contest will signal a new phase of change in Malaysia.
Firstly, if Rafizi and Nurul Izzah represent the future leaders of our country, I definitely do not think that either would ever play the race and religion card or resort to May 13 rhetoric.
I have never heard either one of them uttering such sentiments. They have both stayed true to the new politics and not adopted the practices of old, favoured by the likes of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno Baru.
I do not think that either one of them will declare others as infidels or pray for misery to befall their fellow Muslims.
These two are the antithesis to the likes of Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and, therefore, there is hope for us Malaysians.
Secondly, a political party operating within the country's democratic framework must itself uphold democratic principles.
If so, the battle between the two leaders is just an example of PKR being true to its ideals.
Thus, the party is better than one that postpones its election, better than another that has a gentlemen's agreement to place leaders in positions without competition or a party that declares that the incumbents of its top two positions cannot be challenged.
For me, a party that dares to allow a competition for the deputy presidency despite its waning support shows an inner strength that dares to question and revive.
Thirdly, both Rafizi and Nurul Izzah will not be of 'Umno DNA'.
Despite simplistic accusations of nepotism and a mocking of PKR as 'Parti Keluarga Rakyat', I believe both leaders have had enough of the Anwar-Mahathir saga in politics.
It would be a bonus for Malaysia that, come GE16 or at the very least GE17, we could actually move on from the Reformasi pages of our history.
Although Rafizi and Nurul Izzah are products of 'Reformasi' politics, they have never shown themselves to be in complete agreement with Anwar's template for reform. To me this is not a sign of disloyalty. Instead, it shows a maturity and courage to challenge the ways of old.
Fourth, the outcome of the battle may hint at the prospects of Nurul Izzah becoming Malaysia's first female prime minister. I cannot think of any woman from Umno, Bersatu, PAS or even Amanah who can challenge her for that accolade.
I must admit that I am not a feminist and never have been one but I think we are more likely to see our first female prime minister even before the US sees its first woman president.
Fifth, to prevent that from happening, we may well see the Rafizi of old — the one who goes to the ground with his power point slides and statistical analyses.
Although it takes much, much more to be the prime minister in Malaysia, it is good that we have a potential leader who knows how to analyse and research voter patterns to ascertain what Malaysians want.
It is something both Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional do not do, simply because they take it upon themselves to tell the public what they should want, and use race and religious issues to cover up corruption and inept management practices.
We know what Rafizi is about. Now, let's see what Nurul Izzah has for her campaign tours.
So, that is what this Rafizi-Nurul Izzah contest means to me—a new future and a new hope.
To me, it does not matter who wins.
As the rock group Scorpions song goes, I am sensing now 'the winds of change', either way.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.