JOHOR BAHRU – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim retained the presidency of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) unchallenged as expected after nominations for the closely-watched leadership race closed on May 9, and the spotlight is now trained on the battle for deputy president involving his daughter.

Datuk Seri Anwar, 77, will serve his third and final term till 2028, which coincides with the next Malaysian general election. He was first elected PKR president in 2018.

The party anchors Malaysia’s multi-coalition government that has been in power for 2½ years, with seven Cabinet ministers among its ranks aside from PM Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister.

PKR’s number two post will pit former allies Nurul Izzah Anwar, 44, against incumbent deputy president Rafizi Ramli, 47, who is Minister for Economy.

Ms Nurul Izzah, a PKR vice-president, until recently co-chaired a secretariat that advises Mr Anwar as Finance Minister after losing her parliamentary seat in the November 2022 general election. She is Mr Anwar’s eldest daughter.

She defended her move to contest the position, saying it was unfair to label it as a sign of nepotism and dynasty politics in the 27-year-old party.

“Even if I were to clinch the position of deputy president, I am not interested in any Cabinet post,” Ms Nurul Izzah wrote on Facebook on May 9.  “I believe that those who read this statement with rationality can distinguish between nepotism – being appointed to a position by a family member – and a position attained through a contest voted on by the grassroots,” she added. 

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, 61, who lost the PKR deputy presidency race in 2022 to Mr Rafizi, had been mooted to run again this year. But the former PKR secretary-general did not throw his hat into the ring for any positions in the central leadership.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin, a top aide told local media on May 9, will instead work on strengthening the party for the next general election, when Mr Anwar is expected to run for a second term as prime minister.

Mr Rafizi on May 7 has said he welcomed any challengers, including Ms Nurul Izzah and Mr Saifuddin, addi...