21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar: PKR elections won't prompt cabinet reshuffle
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the 2025 PKR party elections will not trigger any Cabinet reshuffle.
However, Anwar, who is also PKR president, said he would not stand in the way of any leader who wished to resign from government due to the outcome of the party polls.
"This (party election) is a contest between close friends and loyal colleagues.
"There is absolutely no question of changes to the Cabinet.
"I don't know, but we cannot stop someone's aspirations (to resign from the Cabinet if they lose in the party polls).
"If you ask me, there is absolutely no plan to carry out any reshuffle," he said during a media briefing with editors of local and international media at the Seri Perdana Complex here today.
He was responding to comments by Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who recently said he was prepared to step down from the Cabinet if he failed to retain his post as PKR deputy president in this month's party election.
Also present at the briefing were Media Prima's News & Current Affairs (NCA) Group Managing Editor Jasbant Singh; Deputy Group Editor and New Straits Times Group Editor, Farrah Naz Abd Karim; NCA Television Networks Group Editor, Azhari Muhidin; Berita Harian Group Editor, Zulkifli Jalil; and Harian Metro Group Editor, Husain Jahit.
Rafizi had made the remarks during a recent episode of the podcast Yang Bakar Menteri, titled Yang Berhenti Menteri?, saying he was ready to quit the Cabinet should he lose his position as PKR's number two.
He said that even if he withdrew from the Cabinet, he would continue to serve as the member of parliament for Pandan and, in doing so, be free to speak openly on any matter.
Commenting further, Anwar reminded party members to elect leaders who can strengthen the party's machinery.
"With this contest, I stress: choose those who can help fortify the party's operations and harness all our strengths," he said.
In the upcoming PKR elections this weekend, Rafizi will face off against Nurul Izzah Anwar in the race for the party's deputy presidency.
