Nurul Izzah Anwar
Encyclopedia
Nurul Izzah binti Anwar (born November 19, 1980) is a Malaysian politician
from Parti Keadilan Rakyat
(PKR), and is the current Member of Parliament
for Lembah Pantai
. She is the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim
, a former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and the current de facto opposition leader and of the PKR. Her mother, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
, is the President of PKR.
. She later attended Assunta Secondary School in Petaling Jaya
. In 2004, she graduated with a Bachelor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Universiti Tenaga Nasional
, and in May 2007 graduated from Johns Hopkins University
with a Masters in International Relations.
After her father's arrest in 1998 on charges of sodomy
and graft, Nurul Izzah campaigned for his release, speaking at international venues against the actions of the Malaysian government.
Political Career
In the 2008 general election
, Nurul Izzah contested the seat of Lembah Pantai
in Kuala Lumpur
, which was contested by three candidates. There were speculations that she ran for the seat with the intention of handing it over to her father, who was disqualified from running for office until April 2008, though she quickly rejected such claims. The seat was defended by three-term incumbent Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
, who was Minister for Women, Family and Community Development in the Barisan Nasional
government. Initial reports suggested that Shahrizat would retain the seat, as she had been a popular Minister, and in the 2004 election
retained her seat with a majority of 15,288. However, on polling day, Nurul Izzah won 21,728 votes to Shahrizat's 18,833, and was elected as the new MP for Lembah Pantai.
The defeat of the powerful three-term incumbent by a new face was one of the many surprises in the 2008 election, which saw significant losses of parliamentary seats by the ruling party.
In November 2010, Nurul Izzah was elected one of the Vice Presidents of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Parti Keadilan Rakyat
The People's Justice Party , often known simply as KeADILan) is a centrist political party in Malaysia formed in 2003 by a merger of the National Justice Party and the older Malaysian People's Party...
(PKR), and is the current Member of Parliament
Parliament of Malaysia
The Parliament of Malaysia is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The King as the Head of State is the third component of Parliament....
for Lembah Pantai
Lembah Pantai
Lembah Pantai is a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Constituencies adjacent to Lembah Pantai are Seputeh, Segambut and Bukit Bintang....
. She is the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
, a former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and the current de facto opposition leader and of the PKR. Her mother, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is a Malaysian politician. She is currently the president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and she was the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh from 1999 to 2008. She was also the Leader of Opposition in Dewan Rakyat from March 2008 until 31 July 2008...
, is the President of PKR.
Education
Nurul Izzah attended Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara for her primary education, and then Sekolah Menengah Sri Hartamas, both in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. She later attended Assunta Secondary School in Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya
Petaling Jaya is a Malaysian city originally developed as a satellite township for Kuala Lumpur comprising mostly residential and some industrial areas. It is located in the Petaling district of Selangor with an area of approximately 97.2 km². On 20 June 2006, Petaling Jaya was granted a...
. In 2004, she graduated with a Bachelor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Universiti Tenaga Nasional
Universiti Tenaga Nasional
Universiti Tenaga Nasional is a private research university located in Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia...
, and in May 2007 graduated from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
with a Masters in International Relations.
Career
Social WorkAfter her father's arrest in 1998 on charges of sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
and graft, Nurul Izzah campaigned for his release, speaking at international venues against the actions of the Malaysian government.
Political Career
In the 2008 general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
, Nurul Izzah contested the seat of Lembah Pantai
Lembah Pantai
Lembah Pantai is a parliamentary constituency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Constituencies adjacent to Lembah Pantai are Seputeh, Segambut and Bukit Bintang....
in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, which was contested by three candidates. There were speculations that she ran for the seat with the intention of handing it over to her father, who was disqualified from running for office until April 2008, though she quickly rejected such claims. The seat was defended by three-term incumbent Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in the Malaysian cabinet...
, who was Minister for Women, Family and Community Development in the Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
government. Initial reports suggested that Shahrizat would retain the seat, as she had been a popular Minister, and in the 2004 election
Malaysian general election, 2004
General elections were held in Malaysia on March 21, 2004. The incumbent National Front government of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was re-elected with an increased majority.-Election results:...
retained her seat with a majority of 15,288. However, on polling day, Nurul Izzah won 21,728 votes to Shahrizat's 18,833, and was elected as the new MP for Lembah Pantai.
The defeat of the powerful three-term incumbent by a new face was one of the many surprises in the 2008 election, which saw significant losses of parliamentary seats by the ruling party.
In November 2010, Nurul Izzah was elected one of the Vice Presidents of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Election results
| Year | Parliamentary seat | Votes Obtained | Majority | Ballots Cast | Opponent | Turnout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | P121 Lembah Pantai | 21,728 | won by 2,895 | 41,289 | Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister of Women, Family and Community Development in the Malaysian cabinet... (BN - UMNO), Periasamy a/l Nagarathnam (Independent) |
72.88% |