PKR’s leadership has sought to frame the move by Nurul Izzah, one of the party’s most recognisable reformist figures, not as a resignation but as a temporary break – exposing fresh strains within the party. It is another blow to Anwar after disappointing losses by his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to its federal partner, Barisan Nasional (BN), in Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections. “When the same pattern repeats itself, the question becomes whether this is less a succession problem and increasingly an Anwar problem.” PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar takes part in the Malaysian Bar march for judicial independence in July 2025. Photo: HandoutThe focus should not be who would succeed Anwar next, but whether PKR could develop and retain credible leaders around him without those relationships eventually becoming adversarial, he said.