However, behind the celebrations lies a more complex question: where does this leave PKR and what will happen to its reformist appeal.
The daughter of party president Anwar Ibrahim has officially taken the No 2 spot in PKR, marking the first time in the party’s history that both top positions are held by members of the same family.
While supporters have hailed this as a new era of stability and continuity, critics and observers alike cannot ignore the growing perception of nepotism.
Yet, the more immediate concern for PKR may not be the optics but the potential loss of political firepower with Rafizi’s exit from the leadership.
Rafizi’s X factor
Rafizi may have lost the election, but his impact on the party has been undeniable. His return in 2022 breathed new life into a struggling PKR following disastrous performances in the Melaka and Johor state elections.
Under his watch, and largely through his aggressive campaigning and policy focus, the party began to regain traction, especially among urban, middle-class, and non-Malay voters.
More than just a strategist, Rafizi embodied the “check-and-balance” voice within PKR.
He was often the first to call out missteps, even when it meant going against the grain. That bluntness, while not always popular within the party, earned him credibility .
Without him, PKR risks losing a critical voice and, perhaps more crucially, a voter segment that gravitated towards his brand of transparency.
Nurul Izzah’s reputation as the “reformist princess” of PKR is long established. Her legacy dates back to the party’s founding and her own early struggles against the political establishment.
But times have changed and so have the expectations of voters.
Her victory may strengthen party cohesion in the short term, especially among loyalists and grassroots divisions that backed her overwhelmingly.
Stepping into Rafizi’s shoes will not be easy though. His appeal to younger and more policy-driven voters isn’t something easily replicated by party legacy alone.
Moreover, the dual leadership of Anwar and Nurul Izzah will inevitably raise uncomfortable questions. Critics will argue that no matter how legitimate the process, the result reeks of dynastic politics.
What next for PKR?
With Rafizi out of the picture, and possibly out of party politics for good, PKR will need to reassess its strategy fast. The unity message alone will not be enough.
The party must figure out how to retain the reformist momentum and urban voter confidence that Rafizi once helped recapture.
Nurul Izzah’s challenge is clear, which is to prove that her leadership is not just a continuation of the family brand, but a transformative force in its own right.
That means reaching beyond the loyal base, reconnecting with urban voters, and showing she can hold the party and its government partners accountable.
Failing that, PKR risks becoming a more stable but less dynamic version of itself, comfortable in its internal hierarchy but slowly losing relevance with the very voters who once saw it as a beacon of reform.
Time for new faces?
In addition to Rafizi, several high-profile PKR leaders were defeated in the divisional and national leadership contests, prompting a larger question of whether it is time for PKR to start grooming fresh talent now for the next general election, rather than later.
One of the most notable upsets involved P Prabakaran, the two-term Batu MP and Malaysia’s youngest elected MP. Despite his historic win in the 2018 general election (GE14), Prabakaran not only lost both the Batu divisional contest and the PKR Youth vice chief’s race, he did so badly.
His fall from favour suggests that even youthful faces need more than age on their side – substance and grassroots support still matter.
Another surprise was Wong Chen, the respected Subang MP known for his economic policy expertise. Wong failed to secure a spot among the top 20 in the central leadership elections and did not contest in his own Subang division.
His quiet withdrawal from the divisional race and loss in the national contest have raised eyebrows, especially as younger, less experienced faces managed to break through.
Perhaps the most symbolic defeat was that of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the natural resources and environment minister.
Once seen as a rising star, Nik Nazmi lost the Setiawangsa division chief race and was the only incumbent PKR vice-president who failed to retain his post.
His double defeat sends a strong message that internal support is no longer guaranteed by ministerial office or seniority alone.
With bigwigs like Rafizi being booted out, PKR is staring at a leadership vacuum that could hurt its general election prospects unless it starts identifying and preparing a new generation of electable, grounded candidates now.
The party election results signal a desire for change from within, but whether that change is being channelled effectively remains to be seen.
The risk is that without Rafizi’s charisma and strategic mind, and with old names fading, PKR may struggle to remain relevant to voters especially in urban, middle-class constituencies that demand more than rhetoric.