PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim publicly gave a full mandate to vice-president Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to carry out the party's deputy president duties at the PKR National Congress in Melaka on August 16, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Saifuddin assumes the role due to incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar taking a temporary leave of absence [1, 2, 3].
Anwar praised Saifuddin as "my old friend, most loyal and whom I have known for a very long time and understands (how I work), to continue this work as deputy president" [1]. He called on the entire PKR machinery to provide Saifuddin with their "full support, cooperation and loyalty" as he steps into the position [2].
The Central Leadership Council had agreed on August 6 for Saifuddin to assume interim deputy president duties, as announced by PKR Information Chief Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil [1, 2, 3].
Alongside this, Anwar appointed Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as PKR election director and Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as coordinator at the Prime Minister's Office [1, 2, 3]. He also instructed Negeri Sembilan PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun to focus on training and cadre development of new party members, emphasizing, "Aminuddin is still needed; experience should teach him and teach us. Aminuddin, focus on your role as vice-president, which is to provide the best possible training to our young members, that is your new duty" [3].
Anwar addressed recent calls for change, referring to demands by six Negeri Sembilan PKR division chiefs seeking a review of Aminuddin's chairmanship of the Negeri Sembilan PKR State Leadership Council [1, 2, 3]. He stated that the PKR's defeat in the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1 should be taken collectively and "should not be blamed solely on Aminuddin, but rather should be shouldered collectively" [2].
The recent party leadership realignments and mandates come after the state election loss and aim to strengthen PKR’s internal cohesion ahead of upcoming challenges [1, 2, 3].
