Nurul gets RPK’s stamp of approval
The controversial blogger says that the future of this country now hinges on young and talented politicians.
(Free Maklaysia Today) – Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has expressed support for PKR vice-president and one of the rising stars in the Malaysian political arena, Nurul Izzah Anwar.
The blogger, once a die-hard supporter of Nurul’s father, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, had of late been critical of some of the latter’s policies with regard to Pakatan Rakyat.
However, the UK-based Raja Petra organised a fund-raising dinner for Nurul, who is also the Lembah Pantai MP, last night.
In a message to FMT, the blogger had stressed that the future of Malaysia hinged upon young and talented leaders like Nurul.
“I would like to express my support for Nurul. The future belongs to the young. She and those of her generation should now take over the leadership of Malaysia,” he said.
Raja Petra also hoped to see the next general election being contested by “educated, intelligent and progressive” candidates under the age of 40.
“This younger generation with new ideas and the spirit of anak bangsa Malaysia is what the country needs to move Malaysia forward and discard the racial politics that is dividing our nation,” he said.
Raja Petra’s open endorsement of Nurul was bound to raise eyebrows since his detractors in Pakatan had accused the blogger of being a turncoat due to his stinging articles against the opposition pact and its leaders.
However, the blogger had on numerous occasions stressed that he would call a spade a spade irrespective of political affiliations.
The fund-raising event was also attended by Raja Petra’s daughter, Sara (photo).
A ‘princess’ liked by all
Nurul, on the other hand, was a familiar face both in the domestic and international arenas.
The 31-year-old mother of two was thrust into the limelight when her father was sacked from the government in 1998 and became the poster girl for the Reformasi movement.
In the 2008 general election, Nurul, an engineer by training, made her electoral debut and defeated Umno heavyweight Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency.
From her teenage days as the “princess of Reformasi” till now, Nurul’s striking good looks, humility, charm and intelligence had managed to capture the hearts of millions, even those of her political adversaries.
Political pundits had also not discounted the possibility of Nurul, who is well-received by all races, of rising to the pinnacle of power to become the first woman prime minister of Malaysia.
