Rafizi's resignation unlikely to shake unity government

Sinar Daily

29-05-2025

SHAH ALAM – Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli's resignation as Economy Minister is unlikely to weaken PKR or disrupt the stability of the unity government.
The move was viewed as a matter of principle rather than a trigger for political fallout.
Political analysts said the departure of the high-profile minister, following his defeat in the PKR deputy presidency race, reflected a commitment to political accountability while Cabinet reshuffles were routine and have little impact on the cohesion of the current administration.
Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia principal adviser Dr Oh Ei Sun said Rafizi's decision was a "politically moral" act, noting that his Cabinet position was closely tied to his party role.
"Rafizi has earned a reform-minded reputation over the years and it is indeed important for Anwar to appoint a renowned reform-minded person as replacement.
"Cohesion is in any case not prominent with this Cabinet as it represents a coalition government with diverse component parties," he said when contacted, yesterday.
He noted that PKR's internal divisions were no secret, with a pattern of deputy leaders clashing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who seemed resistant to the rise of a clear successor.
However, Oh said this ongoing tension has not appeared to affect the party's ability to win elections.
He added that while Rafizi may have some appeal among Malay voters, he was better known as a reformist figure with multiracial support.
Given the increasingly conservative leanings of the Malay political mainstream, any party hoping to capture that segment would need to project a more conservative image, something that a multiracial party like PKR may find challenging, he added.
"If PKR were to consolidate its conventional supporters who are largely reform-minded, it would have to present reform-minded party leaders. But doing so without having them been perceived by Anwar as a potential successor is a delicate balancing act," he added. Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli resigns as Economy Minister, effective June 17, 2025. - Photo by Bernama
Meanwhile, political analyst Professor James Chin echoed this view, saying that Rafizi's resignation carried no major implications for Cabinet stability.
"Ministers come and go, it's normal. Rafizi is simply keeping his word. He promised to resign if he lost the deputy post and he did.
"There's always a lot of talent, it's a question of who the Prime Minister appoints. Of course, my own personal preference is that he stays in the Cabinet because the Prime Minister's appointment is the prerogative. It's not supposed to be linked to the party position," he said.
Chin said Rafizi's resignation was unlikely to significantly affect PKR's internal dynamics, as party factions had already been evident during the recent leadership contest.
He added that while the situation was unlikely to shift much in the immediate term, internal divisions could resurface in the next general election as rival factions compete to field their preferred candidates.
He pointed to the upcoming Sabah state election as the first major test for newly elected PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
"Sabah will be her proving ground. She's aiming for 13 seats, but expectations are low. Still, she must deliver a strong result for Pakatan Harapan, which includes DAP and Amanah," he said.
He said Rafizi's resignation would not affect PKR's support among Malay voters, so long as he remained in the party.
If he stayed in PKR and does not start a new party or join another, it would not hurt Malay support, Chin added.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali said Rafizi's resignation was constitutionally valid and politically appropriate.
"In Malaysia, a Cabinet minister has the right to resign if they disagree with party or government direction.
"Rafizi lost in the party polls and since his party leader is also the Prime Minister, it makes sense for him to step aside," he said.
Mazlan said the impact on government operations was minimal, as Anwar led a strong two-thirds majority government.
Although Rafizi was an effective minister, he said the unity government has a deep talent pool capable of replacing him.
He also noted that other parties such as Umno, DAP and Amanah have not interfered or raised objections.
He added that while Nurul Izzah secured a decisive win, the PKR grassroots did not vote strictly along factional lines.
"Two vice-presidents linked to Rafizi also won, along with several central leadership council members. This suggests the grassroots choose candidates based on merit, not factions," he said.
Mazlan also said Rafizi's resignation was more of an internal PKR issue and will not affect the broader coalition's performance in the next general election.
He said as long as the unity government component parties like Umno, Amanah, DAP and GPS continued to support Anwar, the coalition remained in a strong position.
Rafizi officially tendered his resignation as Economy Minister, effective June 17 and will use his remaining annual leave until then.
In a statement, he said his resignation followed his recent defeat in the PKR party elections, leaving him without a mandate to continue driving the party's agenda in the government.
Shortly after, Nik Nazmi announced his resignation as Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, effective July 4.
He cited his loss in the PKR polls, pointing out that his Cabinet role was closely linked to his former position as a party vice-president.