SHAH ALAM - As talk grows louder about Nurul Izzah Anwar possibly contesting for the deputy president role in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), opinions remain split.
While many acknowledged her experience and credibility, others worried about how the move might look to the public especially in a party that championed reform and inclusivity given that Nurul Izzah was not only a seasoned politician but also the daughter of Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Dr Abdul Aziz Azizam pointed out that although Nurul Izzah’s credentials were solid, public perception could still be a stumbling block.
"The concern many Malaysians might have is not necessarily about her individual capability, but rather the broader perception that PKR is becoming too family-centric.
"This perception risks reinforcing narratives that the party lacks internal democratic vibrancy or sufficient leadership talent beyond the Anwar family," he told Sinar Daily.
He said for a party that presented itself as reformist and multiracial, such perceptions could damage its image adding that as a party founded on reformists values, it needed to show maturity in its leadership choices.
"In a healthy democratic country, political parties must work hard to project institutional maturity.
"Leadership renewal should be merit-based, competitive and inclusive, not dynastic or familial in nature," he said.
Meanwhile, O2 Research Malaysia (O2) chief researcher Anis Anwar Suhaimi said Nurul Izzah’s long track record as an MP, her leadership roles and her advisory work on national economic issues have shaped her identity well beyond just Anwar's daughter.
Within PKR, where internal rivalries have sharpened in the post-government era, Anis said Nurul Izzah’s political capital may lie precisely in her neutrality.
However, he said her potential candidacy was not without criticism.
He said family ties still have a strong influence over political succession and decision-making at all levels from the federal leadership down to divisions and grassroots and PKR was no exception.
"They are not an anomaly, they are structural. Across party lines, from Umno to DAP, family ties continue to shape political succession and internal influence from federal to divisional and grassroots levels.
"PKR is not exempt from this and perhaps it is time we stop pretending that political legacy is a liability that must always be denied," he said when contacted.
Anis said what mattered more was how a figure like Nurul Izzah was positioned within the party's trajectory and how her rise can be interpreted not as a case of nepotism but one of legitimacy and continuity.
He said unlike other senior figures embroiled in past factional disputes, Nurul Izzah has largely stayed above the fray, positioning her as a potential unifier in a party struggling to realign its reformist identity.
As party elections loom, PKR faced a crucial test, not just of leadership, but of its commitment to reform, renewal and the principles it has long championed.
Nurul Izzah previously announced her intention to defend her vice-president position in the upcoming PKR elections on May 24.