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New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Nik Nazmi resigns as cabinet minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has resigned as natural resources and environmental sustainability minister. The Setiawangsa member of parliament said he had submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Nik Nazmi said the resignation will take effect on July 4. "I will be on leave starting tomorrow until July 3. "Since being appointed to the cabinet, first as the natural resources, environment and climate change (from December 2022 to December 2023), and later as the natural resources and environmental sustainability (from December 2023 to July 2025), I have done my utmost, alongside the deputy minister and dedicated civil servants, to implement much-needed reforms," he said in a statement today. Nik Nazmi, who lost the PKR vice-president post in the recent party election, said he was aware that the position was a key factor in his cabinet appointment. He said he decided to step down as the minister as he was not re-elected to the post. "I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the dedicated civil servants, my outstanding team, and all parties across the public sector, private sector, and civil society who have taught me so much and made possible the implementation of numerous important reforms during this period. "We have consistently strived to adopt an open, consultative approach in shaping policies and introducing legislation." He said among the key achievements of these two ministries are the phase 1 amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and improvements in transparency concerning Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reporting. He said Malaysia also became one of the earliest countries to submit its National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) to combat environmental degradation. A significant reduction in deforestation rates has also received recognition from the United Nations secretary-general António Guterres, he said. "Just weeks after taking office, we successfully implemented the targeted restructuring of electricity subsidies under the Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT) mechanism in Peninsular Malaysia. "We also passed the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act in the Dewan Rakyat." He said the ministry also introduced the much-needed Tariff Setting Mechanism in the water sector. Nik Nazmi said the ministry initiated the drafting of the National Climate Change Bill, which is now in its final stages before being tabled to the cabinet and parliament. "I now look forward to resuming my responsibilities as a member of parliament and focusing on serving my constituency in Setiawangsa. "To borrow the words of the late British MP, Tony Benn, I left the cabinet to devote more time to politics and public service."