Adam said that Nurul Izzah, the daughter of party president Anwar Ibrahim, had not only emerged as a principled figure and one of integrity in a complex political situation, but was also capable of injecting the “Reformasi” spirit into a new generation of PKR members.
He said Nurul Izzah had also been consistent in pushing for justice, integrity, and institutional reforms.
He said his endorsement of Nurul Izzah was a strategic move to strengthen the leadership for the future.
“Nurul Izzah has been part of PKR’s history and she is also its future,” he said in a statement.
Adam’s endorsement of Nurul Izzah came hours after FMT reported a party source as saying that more PKR leaders were expected to voice their support for the vice-president to contest the number two post at the central leadership council election.
Numerous statements have already been released by PKR leaders across the country, including 22 of the 26 divisional leaders in Johor, backing Nurul Izzah for the deputy president’s position at the May 23 polls.
The 22 from Johor include Khairil Adanan (Mersing), Ysahruddin Kusni (Bakri), Haniff Ghazali (Pontian), Faizul Abd Ghani (Pengerang), Kalytas Chandrahasan (Kluang), Hisyamuddin @ Misrin Haji Ishak (Parit Sulong), Shahrun Radzi (Sembrong), Ibrahim Nor (Kota Tinggi), Roselin Nona (Muar), Sayful Ariffin (Tanjung Piai), and Ravi Shankar (Labis).
The others are Shamala Vasudevan (Segamat), Fakharuddin Moslem (Tenggara), Subramani Chami (Pagoh), Rosman Tahir (Ayer Hitam), Faezudin Puad (Pulai), Arthur Chiong (Kulai), Shamala Devi (Iskandar Puteri), Pang See Keong (Sekijang), Murad Jailani (Pasir Gudang), Prakash Maniam (Tebrau), and Saad Salleh (Sri Gading).
The position is currently held by Rafizi Ramli, who announced that he would be defending the post he was elected to in 2022 after defeating Saifuddin Nasution Ismail with a landslide 16,668-vote majority.
While Nurul Izzah, a former Permatang Pauh MP, has not confirmed if she will contest the deputy president’s post, the source said her candidacy was a “done deal”.
“She will be contesting,” added the source, who is well placed in the party.