Nurul Izzah

Some one asked me today “Who shall champion the Malays then?” Who indeed! I did not have to think for even a minute. If Nurul Izzah is half what her father is then given time she will be one of those individuals that we can expect to emerge from within Pakatan Rakyat to take her rightful place as one of our more capable leaders. This is no ordinary daughter of Anwar. In her I see a person focussed in the direction towards which we must all move – towards change, towards decency and towards a Malaysia we want.

 

She is no Najib or Hishammuddin. Children from privilaged families spoilt rotten and growing up to be adults three time removed from their revered Father. This is no girl who was given a future on a silver platter. I watched as she went head to head against Sharizat and asked myself “Why must Anwar throw her into the lion den on her maiden foray into real life politics?” And when she was victorious I watched with a lump in my throat as I saw her – daughter of a friend and now 'Puteri Reformasi' and newly elected Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai!

 

Since then she has conducted herself well. Always restrained and disciplined in the things she does. She might not remember me but just after Anwar’s release I was talking to Anwar at his then house in Damansara. Anwar had to excuse himself to meet another visitor and he asked Nurul to keep me company. I told her that her Father is no longer young and that she must do what she must to ensure that he does not involve himself in to much politics and land in Sungai Buloh again because it was my opinion that his body will not be able to take the punishment. 

She looked and me and said clearly words to the effect that ‘if that is what her father wants to do- she will be there for him”. This was a daughter who understood what had to be done if Keadilan and their dream were to be a reality.

 

She is young. She will need time. She is where she is now, Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai in her own right. She did not have much of an opportunity to live the life of privilege that she thought would come with a father who was Prime Minister designate – but she has taken whatever had come her way since Anwar’s release and she had not falter. She has earned our respect and now we expect more form her. The Malays expect more.