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SPECULATIONS are rife that PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar may not contest the Permatang Pauh parliament seat in the next general election.
During last week's launch of the Penang Pakatan Harapan (PH) war room, state PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the chief minister, revealed a revamp in the state line-up.
Penang PKR deputy chairman Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid will succeed Izzah as the deputy chairman, while there was no mention of what future role she would play.
Izzah was also absent when her father, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, visited Pematang Pauh over the year, including three days ago when he donated 260 cattle for sacrificial slaughter.
Penang PKR veteran Datuk Abdul Halim Hussein said that there were already speculations that she may not contest in the state when Mohamed replaced Izzah as the Penang PKR liaison chairman in a reshuffle last year.
"We must remember that Izzah is also the party deputy president so she has important national responsibilities. But one never knows, as electoral candidates are often decided in the last minute."
But for now, there is an impression that Izzah may not contest in Penang, he said.
As talk of GE16 grows stronger, insiders in Penang PH said there was an element of worry as they feel the party as a whole is not as strong as it used to be.
“There is also plenty of friction with Umno, and if Umno decides to contest solo, it may make things all the more complicated.
“Everyone knows that no single party can form the next government, and it all boils down to forging strong partnerships.
“Many of us are worried that Umno may just decide to turn its back on PH and go with PAS,” said a veteran PKR member.
A DAP veteran also revealed that the infighting in Penang DAP is a major setback and could just turn voters off.
“I doubt the Chinese voters will go back to MCA, but strongly believe that many of them may just not come out to vote,” he said.
He too admitted that GE16 would be a ‘free for all’ and it is anyone’s guess which parties will form the government.
“It could remain status quo where PH and Umno continue working together, but I doubt it.
“We can see that Umno is hungry for power, and it may just forge alliances with any other party with more seats,” he said.
Another source said Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s party could also cause a major swing in the election.
He said Rafizi was still a popular figure, and with him and possibly the likes of Khairy Jamaluddin contesting, it would be a tough fight.
“We must not also forget Pas vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who is also a popular figure, especially among the Malays.
“Malay votes are going to be drastically split in GE16, and a lot may depend on who the Chinese, Indians and other voters pick, he added. – May 29, 2026
