JOHOR BARU, May 23 -- PKR deputy presidential hopeful Nurul Izzah Anwar said last night that she considers her rival Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli a friend, despite their differences.

In her final campaign address to PKR members, Nurul Izzah insisted that the election results would not affect her long-standing friendship with Rafizi.

"Whatever the outcome, whether I win or lose, it will not affect our friendship.

"Saudara Rafizi is my friend. Not only before, but now and forever," she said, using the endearing Malaysian political term to refer to the Economy Minister as her party comrade.

The 44-year-old incumbent PKR vice-president was speaking to more than 1,000 PKR members during the final leg of her roadshow themed "Damai".

The event, ...