Months before the end of his tenure, he was dogged by reports of personal shareholdings that were above the RM100,000 limit allowed for public servants, as well as allegations that he helped a group of businessmen seize control of companies and worked with a “corporate mafia” to pressure businesses to cut deals to avoid corruption investigations.
Both Azam and MACC have denied the assertions, with Azam filing a lawsuit against news outlet Bloomberg, which first published the allegations.
Anwar, who extended Azam’s one-year contract thrice, has repeatedly defended the former anti-graft chief, saying he has shown “extraordinary courage” in going after powerful figures allegedly involved in corruption.
The government has formed a special committee to probe the allegations against Azam but has not made its findings public.
In multiple commentaries published in Malaysian media in May, Nurul Izzah had called for the government to expand the scope of investigation on Azam and stressed the need for independent oversight of the anti-graft agency.
“She wasn’t comfortable with it … I think she saw that the actions of the government and the party’s top leadership on these matters were inconsistent with the principles she and the party had long championed,” said PKR’s Hassan.
Azmi said Nurul Izzah’s public comments ultimately hurt Anwar and the party.
“She was vocal on the issue, but this did not help her father and made it harder for the prime minister in handling the situation,” he said.
Nurul Izzah has also not played a prominent role in PKR’s campaigns for the Sabah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor state elections held between November 2025 and Aug 1 this year, analysts said.
Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition, which mainly comprises PKR, Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), performed poorly in all three polls, particularly in Negeri Sembilan.
PH lost control of the state government to a coalition led by rivals Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
The PKR deputy president typically serves as the party’s election director, but after the Sabah polls last November, the role was handed to Amirudin, who is also Selangor’s chief minister.
While Nurul Izzah did campaign on the ground, analysts said her presence was relatively muted.
“She has been quiet and inactive on the campaign front. Perhaps it’s a good thing for PKR that she is stepping aside after the party’s losses in Johor and Negeri Sembilan,” said Azmi.
Wong said Nurul Izzah’s presence as PKR’s number two was “simply not felt”.
“She has not offered the strategy or charisma that Rafizi did. It raises a simple question: why did Anwar need to force Rafizi out by pushing his daughter up?” he said.
Wong added the resignation further outlines the lack of leadership in PKR’s lineup, compared to Parti Islami Se-Malaysia’s vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Hamzah Zainudin of Parti Wawasan Negara and Khairy Jamaluddin of the United Malays National Organisation.
Syaza said some members may have partly laid the dismal results on her.
“There was the expectation that the deputy president should lead the party to better results in the polls but that didn’t happen. Of course, it’s not all her fault but she has to take some of the brunt,” Syaza said.
PKR’s Hassan said it is possible Nurul Izzah, who remains a PKR member, may return to a party post after Malaysia’s next general election due by February 2028.
“I believe that after the next General Election, we don’t know if the party will be able to remain in government or not. She may feel it is better for her longer term to step away for now,” said Hassan.
“The next GE could alter the political scenario for PH and PKR … I believe she will make a comeback then,” he said.
