KUALA LUMPUR - The president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Dec 21) stood by his daughter's move to quit all party and government posts this week, saying MP Nurul Izzah Anwar was tired of the political games she saw in the last nine months.

Datuk Seri Anwar, the prime-minister-in-waiting in the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH), said Ms Nurul Izzah was "sick and tired of the deception and machinations of those who are far more interested in playing politics instead of focusing on helping the rakyat (people) they purport to serve".

Ms Nurul Izzah, 38, retained her PKR vice-presidency by a huge margin in its internal polls last month. She shocked many Malaysians by resigning from all party and government posts without detailing her reasons.

She was also head of PKR in her home state of Penang and chairman of the government's Technical and Vocational Education Training Empowerment Committee.

PH won the general election seven months ago, with Ms Nurul Izzah a prime mover in ensuring the alliance gelled together in the two months prior to the polls.

Mr Anwar gave one example of the political games as "the people's disillusionment caused by the recent switching of parties by MPs to save their 'political skins' or to 'shore up power for nefarious ends'".

He did not mention names but three former Umno MPs have joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, the political vehicle of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mr Anwar, referring to Ms Nurul Izzah's resignation, also said "this is an indictment of certain individuals within the party leadership ranks whose deceptive platitudes place individual greed above party unity", in what could be seen as a criticism of PKR's deputy president Azmin Ali, who has fallen out with the Anwar family.

Ms Nurul Izzah has said she will continue her work as MP of Permatang Pauh constituency on mainland Penang.