IT may be easy for PKR’s deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar to state that she shoulders full responsibility “collectively as a team” alongside her joint election director Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail over the party’s dismal performance in the recent 17th Sabah state election.
But her rhetoric-laden statement to justify that victory “cannot be measured by numbers alone” given the polls’ outcome was also reflective of “sentiments on issues of governance, transparency and local leadership” left very much to be desired.
Now that PKR which contested a dozen seats only managed to win a pathetic one seat (two previously) while the party’s and essentially the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition’s “fixed deposit” DAP was literally “wiped out” from Sabah, a disgruntled insider dreads a bleak future beckons for PKR/PH.
“If the trend seen in Sabah spreads to the Peninsula, what will become of PKR led by PMX Anwar and his daughter Nurul Izzah, and the entire PH in the next state elections (Melaka and Johor) and the GE16 (16th General Election)?” wondered 𝖠𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗅’s Essentials (@AfralAbdullah) who belongs to former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s faction.
“Is the aura of PMX (party president and Prime Minister Datuk Serti Anwar Ibrahim) and Nurul Izzah unable to convince Sabahan voters?”
The term of the 17th Sabah State Legislative Assembly (PRN17) has officially concluded following the successful swearing-in of Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor as the Chief Minister of Sabah for a second term.
What really stood out to me was how badly the HARAPAN… pic.twitter.com/IQadcd2WeF
— 𝖠𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗅’s Essentials (@AfralAbdullah) November 29, 2025
The poster went on to paint a picture that the writing has been on the wall since May’s PKR’s central leadership polls given a potential split has occurred in the party with Rafizi who eventually quit as economy minister removed from the leadership line.
“To what extent is the popular perception that the people close to PMX and the new party leadership line dominated by the #DAMAI faction (helmed by Nurul Izzah) are among the chief causes of the decline in support for PKR and PH?” asked 𝖠𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗅’s Essentials.
“Should PKR take immediate steps to remove several leaders, especially leaders who don’t have the rakyat‘s mandate and replace leaders who have been heavily criticised by party members, supporters and the common rakyat?”
“Or PKR should only leave the ‘rice to turn to porridge’?”
Interestingly, 𝖠𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗅’s Essentials also did an assessment on five of PKR’s top leaders who showed up or participated in the Sabah state polls campaign:
- Warlord 1 (PKR’s deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar): Lost in her family’s deemed fortress of Permatang Pauh during GE15 to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN/PAS) with a majority of 5,272 votes.
- Warlord 2 (Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail): Lost the Kulim Bandar Baharu seat during GE15 to Roslan Hashim (PN/BERSATU) with a majority of 13,061 votes.
- PKR vice-president (VP) and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari: PKR-ruled Selangor lost its two-third majority during the July 2023 state polls.
- PKR’s secretary-general and Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh: Lost the Kuantan seat to Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN/PAS) with a majority of 2,866 votes.
- PKR vice-president and Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan: Former MIC member who only officially joined PKR in 2020.
“If those who failed in their own constituencies and VP Ramanan who is made a key pillar despite barely clocking five years in PKR could become the party’s cornerstone in the Sabah state polls, how in the world would you expect us to have confidence that PKR/PH candidates will excel?” berated 𝖠𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗅’s Essentials.
My view might be debatable but that’s precisely what my friends (presumably Rafizi’s loyalists) and I had in mind as far as the 17th Sabah state election is concerned. Bitter as it may be, the election results have in a way confirmed it.
It will be interesting for us to observe PKR’s next move in particular and that of PH in general in facing the next state polls before facing GE16.
My friends and I firmly believe that if PKR or PH ignore lessons of the Sabah state polls, they shouldn’t be shocked if history repeats itself. – Dec 2, 2025
