Ipoh: Support for Nurul Izzah Anwar in contesting the post of deputy president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in the 2025-2028 party election is seen as crucial to strengthening the party in preparation for the 16th General Election (GE16).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PKR deputy information chief I, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, emphasized the importance of her leadership, referring to her previous success as election director during GE14, where the party achieved a significant number of seats. Ramanan highlighted the need for Nurul Izzah to reprise her role as election director for the upcoming GE, implementing strategies that previously helped PKR secure 47 seats.
“The highest number of seats we’ve ever won was under Nurul Izzah’s leadership as election director. Her track record speaks for itself,” Ramanan stated. He expressed confidence that if she assumes the deputy president role and oversees the election machinery, the party could potentially win 70 or even 80 seats.
Ramanan, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, noted the strong support for Nurul Izzah, evidenced by the attendance of 22 out of 24 Perak division chiefs at a special meeting held at Casuarina Hotel. He also pointed out the growing support for PKR within the Indian community, attributing this to their increased participation in previous elections and the MADANI government’s commitment to the community, which includes the largest budget allocation in history.
The government has allocated nearly RM400 million for initiatives targeting the Indian community, a significant increase from the RM100 million previously allocated under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra). Key programmes include the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i).
In addition to Ramanan, 11 leaders have filed nominations for the party’s Vice President post, including four incumbents: Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The PKR National Congress, including the AMK and Wanita Congress, is scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24 in Johor Bahru, with the polling day set for May 23.