Twenty-six years ago, in November 2000, Hassan Abdul Karim was tasked with guarding Nurul Izzah Anwar after PKR received intelligence that she might be targeted during the Lunas by-election campaign.

At the time, she was a 21-year-old fresh graduate. Hassan, then a key figure in Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) before its merger with PKR, immediately saw immense potential in the young “puteri reformasi”.

But now, Hassan could barely conceal his disillusionment over Nurul Izzah’s (above) decision to step back from active politics...

But now, Hassan could barely conceal his disillusionment over Nurul Izzah’s (above) decision to step back from active politics.