KUALA LUMPUR – The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has approved leave applications from both Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
In a statement issued this evening, the PMO said it had received formal requests from both ministers seeking leave and to step back from their Cabinet responsibilities.
“After reviewing the requests, the Prime Minister has agreed to approve the leave applications of both ministers,” the statement said.
The office, however, stopped short of explicitly acknowledging the ministers’ resignations, merely stating that “any further decisions regarding the matter will be announced by the Prime Minister in due course”.
This comes in the wake of public announcements made earlier today by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, who declared their intentions to resign from the Cabinet following their recent defeat in the PKR party elections.
Rafizi, who lost to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the contest for the deputy president post, said his decision was grounded in the principle that leaders without party mandate should make way for others. He will remain on leave until his resignation takes effect on June 17.
Nik Nazmi, who also failed to retain his position as a PKR vice-president and was defeated in his bid to remain Setiawangsa division chief, similarly stated that he no longer held the political mandate to serve in Cabinet. His resignation is scheduled to take effect on July 4, following a period of leave beginning tomorrow.
Both ministers cited the importance of accountability and democratic integrity in their respective announcements. Despite the PMO’s approval of their leave, the lack of a formal confirmation of their resignations leaves the future composition of the Cabinet subject to further clarification by the Prime Minister. – May 28, 2025