Saifuddin, the home minister, said what had happened to Anwar in the past was the very reason the party even existed, referring to the latter’s incarceration for about 11 years over charges of corruption and sodomy.

“I don’t see Nurul Izzah winning as a sign of support for Anwar. Nor do I see her defeat as a rejection of him. I don’t view it that way.

“This is simply a contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah,” he told reporters after the monthly assembly for the home ministry.

Rafizi had called on PKR delegates to vote for his rival, Nurul Izzah, as the party’s next deputy president.

He said it would look bad on the PKR president if his daughter were to lose the race for the deputy presidency.

Rafizi, the economy minister, also advised Nurul Izzah’s supporters to exercise caution in defending her candidacy, particularly in addressing concerns and claims of nepotism.

Rafizi and Nurul Izzah are in a one-on-one contest for the PKR deputy presidency, which Rafizi won in the 2022 party elections. Nurul Izzah, who did not contest then, is currently an appointed PKR vice-president.

Separately, Saifuddin said that he chose not to contest the party’s central leadership polls in order to help preserve stability and unity within PKR.

“My role is to be a moderating force, because the principle to which I hold is that party elections should not be seen as ‘us versus them’. Instead, we must approach them with the mindset that we are in this together.

“Of course, I can’t control other people’s decisions, but I can control my own. And for me, the best decision was not to contest,” he said.

He said he would continue to contribute meaningfully as a member of the party’s political bureau and as secretary-general of Pakatan Harapan.

Saifuddin was initially expected to mount a challenge for the deputy president’s post, but decided not to contest any at all after discussions with several parties, including PKR’s top leadership.