PKR Replaces Nurul Izzah With Amirudin Shari as Co-Election Director Ahead of Upcoming Polls

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2026 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat has appointed its vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as co-election director, replacing deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar in a strategic reshuffle of the party’s election machinery.

Amirudin will now serve alongside Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who remains in the position as PKR’s co-election director. The appointment was confirmed by PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh following a decision by the party’s political bureau.

According to Fuziah, the reshuffle is part of PKR’s wider strategic realignment to streamline internal work processes and improve coordination as the party prepares for upcoming elections. The move signals a renewed focus on strengthening election operations, ground mobilisation, and coordination between party leadership and grassroots machinery.

Nurul Izzah, who is also the eldest daughter of PKR president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will no longer hold the co-election director role. However, PKR said she will continue to play a strategic function within the party by focusing specifically on developing the capacity of PKR’s election machinery and improving workflow at various levels.

Fuziah said this new focus is part of PKR’s effort to invest in its grassroots strength and ensure that the party’s organisational capacity continues to grow in a more structured and sustainable manner.

The reshuffle comes less than a year after Nurul Izzah was appointed co-election director alongside Saifuddin in June 2025. Her appointment at the time followed her victory over Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli in the contest for PKR deputy president.

The latest changes also come amid shifting internal dynamics within PKR. Rafizi, a former PKR deputy president, left the party earlier this month and took over the Malaysians United Party, also known as Bersama, last week. His departure marked a significant political development within the broader reformist political landscape and added further attention to PKR’s internal restructuring.

Amirudin’s appointment is seen as important because he is among PKR’s senior leaders and also serves as Selangor Menteri Besar and Member of Parliament for Gombak. His leadership experience at state and federal levels is expected to give PKR a stronger organisational hand in preparing its election strategy.

In addition to Amirudin’s appointment, PKR also announced that Federal Territories PKR chief Azman Abidin has been named director of the party’s election war room. Azman, who serves as political secretary to Anwar, will be assisted by Ruji Ubi.

The election war room will be responsible for coordinating PKR’s election strategies, monitoring workflow, and managing ground operations. This role is expected to be crucial as the party works to strengthen its readiness ahead of the next general election and other possible electoral contests.

PKR also reported an increase in membership, with 5,936 new members joining the party between April and May. Fuziah said the party’s strength does not only depend on central leadership, but also on thousands of grassroots members who form the backbone of its political machinery.

The party said it is now moving into a new phase focused on closing ranks, strengthening grassroots capabilities, and ensuring that its machinery operates as one coordinated team.

The reshuffle is likely to be closely watched by political observers, especially as PKR remains a key component of the Pakatan Harapan coalition and plays a central role in Malaysia’s unity government. With election preparation becoming increasingly important, the party’s ability to manage internal roles, maintain grassroots momentum, and present a united front will be critical to its political strategy.

While the replacement of Nurul Izzah may raise questions about internal positioning, PKR’s statement frames the move as an organisational adjustment rather than a removal from the party’s election preparation structure. Nurul Izzah is still expected to contribute to election readiness, particularly through capacity-building and workflow development.

For PKR, the new leadership structure places Amirudin and Saifuddin at the forefront of election planning, while Nurul Izzah takes on a more focused role in strengthening the party’s internal machinery. This division of responsibilities suggests that PKR is attempting to sharpen its campaign operations while maintaining continuity among senior leaders.

As Malaysia’s political parties continue preparing for future electoral battles, PKR’s latest reshuffle highlights the importance of early planning, disciplined coordination, and grassroots mobilisation in shaping the party’s election performance.