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Sinar Daily
29-05-2025
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Rafizi's resignation unlikely to shake unity government
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.
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Singapore GE2025: Final campaign sprint heats up as voters weigh cost of living and job security
SINGAPORE, May 1 — With just days to go before polling, political parties contesting Singapore's general election (GE2025) are ramping up efforts to win over more than 2.75 million eligible voters. Since campaigning began following the close of nominations on April 23, parties and candidates have launched full-scale outreach efforts — including house visits, walkabouts, podcast appearances, political party broadcasts, social media campaigns, and the highly anticipated return of physical rallies, which were last held during GE2015. The rallies — held during lunchtime (12 pm to 3 pm) and in the evenings (7 pm to 10 pm) — have drawn sizable crowds. The Workers' Party (WP) has been particularly successful in attracting large turnouts, with its venues reaching maximum capacity for at least two consecutive nights. These events are also livestreamed on social media platforms, including by mainstream media, garnering strong online viewership. Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia's principal adviser, Oh Ei Sun, observed that social media had been used for political propaganda well before the official campaign period, and noted that the opposition appears to have greater access to mainstream media this time. 'It remains to be seen if all these would have an impact on the election,' he told Bernama. Workers' Party Secretary-General and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh speaks during a rally ahead of the general election in Singapore April 24, 2025. — Reuters pic The cooling-off period begins at midnight on May 2 and lasts until the close of polls, during which all forms of campaigning are prohibited. The police have issued permits for 11 rallies to six parties and one independent candidate on the last day of campaigning on May 1. Bread-and-butter issues such as the cost of living, housing, job security, as well as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), have taken centre stage in rally speeches. At times, pointed criticisms of rival parties and candidates have added drama to what is typically a civil political discourse in Singapore. Helmi, 60, a voter in the five-seat Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), said he believed Singaporeans tend to be pragmatic when deciding on the country's and their children's future. He and his wife, Angela, took leave from work to attend a rally, saying it was an opportunity not to be missed, as it allowed them to get a sense of the 'pulse' to listen and get up close to the candidates. 'The cost of living is an issue because I help in social services, and I see that there are people — not many, but still — who are struggling. While the majority might be able to cushion the cost of living and inflation in the short term, we must not forget those in the lower-income group who may not have that capacity. 'Who I choose is the one that I believe will take care of these people,' Helmi said, adding that his mind is already made up ahead of the May 3 polls. The father of two said party manifestos, speeches, and track records were key in shaping his decision. Supporters of the People's Action Party (PAP) attend rally ahead of the general election in Singapore April 26, 2025. — Reuters pic It's a different story for Bala and Merchan, who are still undecided about whom to vote for. Both working in the finance sector, they said all three — the candidates, the parties, and their manifestos — are equally important in making their decision. 'I've not read all the manifestos, but I read everything that is reported in the media,' Bala said, adding that job security is his key concern. Meanwhile, for Merchan, it is about ensuring 'Singapore continues to be what it is today,' especially in terms of the economy. Singaporeans will go to the polls this Saturday, with 92 out of 97 parliamentary seats being contested. A surprise walkover for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) occurred in the five-seat Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC on nomination day. In total, 206 candidates from 11 political parties and independents are vying for the remaining seats across 32 constituencies, comprising 17 GRCs and 15 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs). According to Oh, all eyes will be on East Coast GRC — where PAP had a narrow win in GE2020 — and several newly created SMCs, to see if the opposition can make further inroads after their absence in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC surprised many. Workers' Party supporters attend a rally ahead of the general election in Singapore April 28, 2025. — Reuters pic Another hotly contested area is the newly formed four-seat Punggol GRC, which will see a straight fight between the PAP slate led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and WP's team of four newcomers, including lawyers Harpreet Singh and Siti Alia. The five-seat Tampines GRC — won by PAP in GE2020 — is also expected to be closely watched, as it features a face-off between two Malay-Muslim figures: PAP's Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli and WP's Faisal Abdul Manap. Other notable mentions include Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan, a perennial candidate and activist who has been part of the country's political landscape since 1992. In GE2025, he is contesting the newly created Sembawang West SMC. In the last election, PAP won 83 out of 93 seats, with the remaining seats going to the WP. Polling stations will open at 8 am and close at 8 pm on polling day, with results expected to start coming in after 10 pm. — Bernama
