ALOR SETAR, May 13 -- In a shock move last night, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has urged his supporters to instead back rival Nurul Izzah Anwar in the upcoming party central leadership election.

Speaking at his campaign tour here, Rafizi said Nurul Izzah's defeat would reflect poorly on the party and be seen as a rejection of its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim - who is also her father.

"Let's say Nurul Izzah loses, what signal would it send to the people? This is just an example. If she loses, it will send a message that PKR members reject Anwar. That is why Nurul Izzah must win. She has to," he was quoted saying by Malaysiakini.

"Because if she loses, we will go into the [next general] election in an unimaginable s...