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Free Malaysia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Rafizi resigns as economy minister
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said his resignation as economy minister will take effect on June 17. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Rafizi Ramli has resigned as economy minister after losing to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the race for the PKR deputy president's post. He said that as is the practice in countries that uphold democratic principles, party leaders who lose internal elections should make way for those who have been given a new mandate. 'I have submitted my resignation letter to the prime minister. This resignation will take effect on June 17. I will be utilising the remainder of my annual leave from today until June 16,' he said in a statement. 'My defeat in the recent PKR election means I no longer have the party's mandate to translate the people's agenda, as championed by PKR, into government programmes.' Prior to the PKR polls, Rafizi had said he would quit as economy minister and go back to being a regular MP if he failed to be re-elected to PKR's No 2 post. The two-term Pandan MP said it would be inappropriate for a Cabinet post to be held by someone who was not a member of the party's central leadership. Speculation of his resignation from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet first swirled following the PKR divisional elections, which saw several figures said to be closely associated with Rafizi failing to win their contests. In his statement today, he thanked the economy ministry's leaders and staff for their support, crediting their competence and capabilities for the crafting of effective policies and programmes. Rafizi also said he was confident that the programmes initiated by the ministry would continue to be implemented. He said his final responsibility as economy minister was to complete the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which has been finalised and is awaiting presentation in the upcoming parliamentary session. Rafizi said the 13MP was drafted to place greater emphasis on comprehensive education reform, including several structural reforms involving the education ministry. 'Our journey to restructure the nation's economy into a stronger and high-income one is still far from over,' he said. 'Therefore, we must continue to make sound long-term decisions, even if they are difficult and challenging, for the sake of future generations.'
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Rafizi's vow to quit as minister understandable, say analysts
Rafizi Ramli has pledged to resign from the Cabinet if he does not retain the PKR deputy president's post at the party's upcoming polls. PETALING JAYA : Analysts say economy minister Rafizi Ramli's pledge to resign if he loses his bid for re-election as PKR deputy president is understandable. Speaking to FMT, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Rafizi is well aware that his appointment to the Cabinet was on the back of his position in PKR, and not due to his expertise in economics. Azmi Hassan. 'There are other people for that. He knows he is a minister because of his deputy presidency in PKR,' he said. On a recent episode of his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast, Rafizi said leaving the Cabinet would be a welcome relief, giving him more time and the freedom to speak out on various issues. He said it would also give him the opportunity to focus on his responsibilities as Pandan MP while helping PKR to prepare for the 16th general election. Syaza Shukri. Syaza Shukri of International Islamic Universiti Malaysia said that while it may appear Rafizi was unconcerned about his ministerial post, he most likely believes that losing the party post was tantamount to losing his mandate to represent PKR in government. 'Although there's no direct relationship between the two positions, we expect ministers to be appointed from among the leaders of the governing parties,' she told FMT. However, Syaza questioned the timing of Rafizi's statement, made in the run-up to the party polls, saying it made him appear petty. 'He did say it would be okay if he loses because being a minister is hard. But if he believes so, why throw his hat in again?' she said. Azmi said Rafizi may be targeting sympathy votes from PKR delegates. '(The strategy will work) if the PKR delegates think he has done a good job (as minister). 'However, certain quarters in PKR do not think much of him as an economy minister. So that could backfire on him,' he said.
