December 17, 2018, 03:10 PM 
Nurul Izzah Anwar announced on Monday, Dec. 17, that she has resigned with immediate effect from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-presidency.
Nepotism and favouritism
This was after the PKR has been hit by fresh allegations of nepotism and favouritism.
Nurul, the eldest daughter of PKR president and prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim, also relinquished her new appointment as the party’s Penang chief and her other federal government appointments.
This includes stepping down as chairman of the special task force on the problem-riddled Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
The Permatang Pauh MP said she would, however, remain a member of the parliamentary backbench committed to reforms.
Accepting Umno defectors unacceptable
Two days earlier on Dec. 15, Nurul had rebuked PH's acceptance of deserters who are defecting from Umno, a political party that is struggling for its survival after getting ousted following the May 2018 election.
She said via Twitter such a move is a betrayal of the mandate given by the people to the ruling coalition.
She described the widespread Umno defections, and PH being open to taking them in, as an insult to voters.
Defeatist to accept defectors
Nurul also characterised the acceptance of those who left as defeating what Malaysians voted for in GE14, which is to stamp out graft and abuse of power.
Nurul, who was newly-appointed as Penang PKR chairman, pointed out that PKR had suffered a similar problem in the past and does not wish to see any other political party go through the same predicament.
"The mass exodus from Umno is a betrayal of the mandate given by the voters on the 9th of May (GE14)... it insults those who are loyal to the cause," she said.
She also said: "Our party (PKR) was attacked before by defections. (I) would not want that kind of pain and antics upon anyone else."
"There is no meaning to democracy if Malaysia is governed by elite-based politicking."
Most hard-hitting comment
Nurul's most hard-hitting comments were targeted at the defectors as well as PH.
She said that PH must not accept defectors from Umno as they had colluded in the perpetrating of corruption during the 61 years of Umno-led administration.
Following the historic GE14 on May 9, defections have been widespread with Umno party members jumping ship coming from Sabah and Peninsula Malaysia.
Below is her statement in full:
To what end will come of the successful completion of the promised reform agenda by Pakatan Harapan remains to be seen - as such, it remains crucial that all stakeholders continue pressing for the fulfillment of the reforms, as well as the continuation of policies and programs of the previous government if proven to be beneficial for the rakyat.
My journey in politics began in 1998 - more as a political awakening, and eventually as part of the central leadership of the People’s Justice Party. I thank the members of KEADILAN for according me the opportunity to serve them all this while.
There are beliefs and ideals I hold dear and I feel that I can be most true to them by taking this course of action I am now announcing.
I am resigning as Vice President of the People’s Justice Party, and relinquish my appointment as the Chair of KEADILAN Penang. The leadership has been informed of my decision.
My work as elected representative for the people of Permatang Pauh and as a legislator will continue until my term expires. I will also remain as an ordinary member of KEADILAN.
I will also no longer serve the federal government in any capacity. I leave the decision as to my role in the Penang state level government linked companies to the party leadership.
I remain a member of the parliamentary backbench committed to reforms. I also leave to the leadership the decision as to my status as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). I had earlier relinquished my post as Chair of the Bills Committee in favor of the PAC.
But I will continue my advocacy work as an ordinary citizen and Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh.
My only regret is that I should have made this announcement sooner, but it has not been an easy decision to arrive at. The pace of political developments has been relentless for the last nine months, with party elections following a gruelling general election campaign.
Now that I have had the chance to take stock of where I stand in relations to politics, I am resolved to doing the right thing.
I wish the leadership and the party the very best.
Nurul Izzah Anwar
17 December 2018
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