Battle for PKR No 2 post will chart party’s new direction

It is often said that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was born on the street.

That observation isn’t far off when one considers the circumstances that led to its formation. When Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was dismissed as deputy prime minister in September 1998, the ensuing charges of abuse of power and sodomy sparked the reformasi (reformation) movement.

That movement, made up of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), Akademi Sains Islam Malaysia (ASASI), and a few loyalists from Umno, would eventually evolve into Parti Keadilan Nasional (PKN).

While PKN began as a protest movement rooted in the perceived injustice done to Anwar, it gained further momentum when it merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) ahead of the 10th General Election. This merger infused the party with like-minded individuals experienced in activism and party-building.

PKR – the result of this merger in 2003 – initially made modest gains, winning five parliamentary seats in GE10. But the party was almost wiped out in GE11, retaining only one seat. Its political fortunes, however, steadily improved from GE10 to GE15, culminating in its control of the Selangor state assembly in 2008 – seen as the party’s crown jewel.

Without delving into the complexities of coalition building – from Barisan Alternatif (BA) to Pakatan Harapan (PH) – and PKR’s role in bridging Pas and the DAP, the party has faced moments of internal rivalry and manoeuvring that have threatened its stability.

Like any political organisation, power struggles can breed factionalism. A notable example was the “Kajang Move” – a manoeuvre aimed at enabling Anwar to enter the Selangor state assembly and replace then Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. The plan collapsed when Anwar was convicted of sodomy by the Court of Appeal, barring him from contesting the March 2014 by-election. His wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, stood in his place and won the seat vacated by PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh.

The political drama surrounding the Kajang Move was described by the Sultan of Selangor as one of the worst Menteri Besar crises in the state’s history. Then came the bruising 2018 contest for the PKR deputy presidency between Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

That battle was so intense that it prompted warnings of an imminent party split. While hardcore reformasi supporters might argue the party had weathered worse storms, the signs of strain were undeniable.

Fast forward to 2025: The contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah Anwar for the same post bears striking similarities. The key difference this time? Nurul Izzah’s father, Anwar, is no longer just the party president – he is also prime minister.

Tensions are clearly rising. It was reported that Rafizi refused to officiate the party’s youth and women’s wing assemblies – a task traditionally handled by the sitting deputy president.

With Anwar holding the dual roles of party leader and national leader, PKR is under a different level of scrutiny. The million-dollar question now is: What’s next?

Succession planning within the party has long been absent. And any open talk of leadership transition is viewed as destabilising the unity government. After all, PH – the largest bloc – lacks another leader with Anwar’s stature, influence, and cross-coalition appeal.

Whatever the outcome of the Nurul Izzah–Rafizi clash, it will shape the party’s next chapter. One thing is clear: PKR must steer through stormy waters in a political era where shifting alliances could well become the norm.

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.