This commentary was first published on ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s platform, Fulcrum, on 23 May 2025 here.
The upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat elections will influence Malaysia’s political future.
The tremendous national attention on the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elections in Malaysia is unsurprising; it is, after all, the first time that the party is holding its elections while also helming the federal government. The stakes are undeniably high in the central elections today (the polls were brought forward a day from tomorrow). Whoever eventually occupies the positions of deputy president and vice president will be seen as potential successors to the current PKR President and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The 16th GE is due to take place by 2027, and if, as in GE2022, no single party wins an outright parliamentary majority, PKR may remain central to the survival of a multi-coalition government. These elections are not merely party matters; they are of national consequence.
The divisional leadership elections conducted (in April) indicate the political significance of the PKR election, which is further intensified by the upcoming race for the deputy presidency between incumbent Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli and Nurul Izzah Anwar – daughter of the prime minister. Rafizi has championed reformist ideals and grassroots engagement, while Nurul Izzah advocates unity, renewal and strategic focus.
Over the last month, the party conducted its divisional leadership elections, where more than 20,000 delegates voted for division chiefs and leaders of women’s and youth wings across 222 divisions nationwide. 289 objections were lodged over alleged discrepancies, but the party’s central election committee has strongly refuted these allegations. Notably, this is the first time PKR has deployed blockchain technology in its electoral process, which the party says strengthens electoral integrity. It also defended an audit report that found no evidence of electoral fraud.
While PKR maintained its “one member, one vote” system for divisional polls, the more influential central leadership election will revert to a delegate-based system. This switch could arguably increase the likelihood of political bargaining and more influence-peddling to secure branch leadership support.
The divisional elections have already delivered some shocks. Several senior figures lost their division chief positions, including Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in Setiawangsa and Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasir in Johor Bahru. Other high-profile casualties included Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung.
Many of these individuals are reportedly aligned with Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli, whose relationship with Anwar has long been speculated as strained, stemming from opposing views over PKR’s political strategy. His role in the government has been interpreted by some as marginalised. Many key monitoring and policy functions, including the MADANI Report Card, are housed within the Ministry of Finance, bypassing the Ministry of Economy entirely.
That the deputy presidency is being contested at all is of some surprise; the top two party positions were initially not up for contest to maintain party stability. But the spotlight is on the ensuing duel between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah.
Nurul Izzah has received outright support from party leaders aligned to the prime minister, a sign that her candidacy has been explicitly endorsed by Anwar himself. However, even with her political credentials and intellectual competence, her win would invite scrutiny over nepotism, given her familial ties.
Rafizi, a two-term MP and known as a party maverick who has preferred to run things his own way, received public accolades over his role in unveiling the National Feedlot Corporation scandal for which he was jailed. He founded the National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) and Invoke Malaysia, where public funds were channelled to finance PKR candidates in the GE2018 campaign. His brazen challenge of party orthodoxy has made him a popular public figure. But this both elevates and isolates him within the PKR ranks.
Nurul Izzah, a three-term MP, is no stranger to Malaysian politics. Dubbed the ‘Reformasi Princess’, she rose to political prominence alongside her father’s Reformasi movement following his sacking in 1998. Since then, she has carved out her own identity, participating in several policy initiatives, most recently launching her own think tank Polity to promote inclusive development. Anwar initially appointed her as his senior advisor on economics and finance, but this was reversed after public backlash. She then co-chaired a secretariat of an advisory panel within the Finance Ministry.
Nurul Izzah has received outright support from party leaders aligned to the prime minister, a sign that her candidacy has been explicitly endorsed by Anwar himself. However, even with her political credentials and intellectual competence, her win would invite scrutiny over nepotism, given her familial ties. She has rejected these claims, saying that she has earned her place in PKR on merit. Yet the top two positions featuring father and daughter will fuel debate over dynastic politics in Malaysia (Anwar’s wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, served as party president while he was incarcerated).
Four vice presidents will also be elected on 24 May, with 12 individuals contesting, including incumbents Chang Lih Kang (Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Amirudin Shari (Selangor Chief Minister) and Aminuddin Harun (Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister). While Chang, Nik Nazmi and Aminuddin are known to support Rafizi, Amirudin has declared support for Nurul Izzah; the eight new challengers are predominantly aligned with Nurul Izzah. Political secretary to the Finance Minister, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, is the sole nominee for the youth chief, while the women’s chief post will be a contest between incumbent and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail.
The most significant contest is that for the deputy presidency. No matter the outcome, PKR’s future trajectory will be altered. Whoever wins, another round of factionalism looms, a reminder of the 2020 party crisis. Then, Deputy President Azmin Ali defected and was later expelled. He brought with him an entourage of supporters and triggered a major split that contributed to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government. A Rafizi loss may lead to a similar party split. Further, Rafizi has said he would resign from his ministerial post if he loses, which will have major implications for economic policy and lead to a Cabinet reshuffle.
However, in typical nonconformist Rafizi fashion, he has also encouraged members to vote for Nurul Izzah as her defeat would be interpreted as a rejection of Anwar’s leadership. If Nurul Izzah does lose against the odds, she faces marginalisation within the party leadership and Anwar himself may lose influence over party direction and appointments – especially if Rafizi uses this opportunity to consolidate control over party machinery.
The nation will be watching as members vote today; PKR’s election outcome will ignite the party’s succession planning and undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on Malaysia’s political landscape.
