THE resignations this week of two Cabinet members, as expected, became front-page news items and sparked speculation across Malaysia’s political and media circles.
After all, it’s not everyday that two ministers would announce their decisions to quit at one go, even though it came as little surprise for many.
Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli had pledged during the PKR party polls campaign that he would quit if he was not re-elected as party deputy president.
With Nurul Izzah Anwar challenging him, it was clear that the tide was against him and Rafizi knew defeat was imminent.
His ally, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also failed to keep his vice-president post, and has decided to leave his Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
The two are held in high regard, not just by their party supporters, but also the general public.
In Nik Nazmi’s case, the media admires him for knowing his subject well, and he is also easily accessible.
Rafizi preferred to use his own social media platform effectively to reach out to the public and was one of the few party generals who readily took on opponents.
His ability to use simple language without technical jargon helped the party to explain government policies.
The media always loves factional feuds as it sells stories.
There will always be suggestions of cracks in a governing coalition or a looming political crisis.
There was even a fake news item about 11 PKR MPs, said to be aligned to Rafizi, wanting to call a press conference to announce their withdrawal of support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
It never happened. Instead, it was quickly dismissed by Chang Lih Kang, the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, a re-elected PKR vice-president supporting Rafizi.
Nik Nazmi has also said he and Rafizi had resigned from their ministerial posts “but we will not betray the party.’’
Their resignations must be respected and many would even admire their principles for taking defeats well.
Having sacrificed their early adulthood for politics instead of cushy, well-paid jobs in the corporate sector, their disappointment was understandable.
They fought for Reformasi in the earliest stage of PKR, at a time when most shied away from the party.
But politics is cruel. As in all elections, there has to be winners and losers and no one will remember the losers in the next few months.
Even their most loyal supporters would happily take over the vacancies left by Rafizi and Nik Nazmi.
Already, some members of Parliament linked to the two have reportedly sent signals to the PM that they are ready if offered positions and their names have surfaced in private conversations.
In Malaysia’s current political climate, the resignations of the two are neither an existential threat nor a sign of federal instability.
In fact, the broader picture suggests the opposite: the government remains intact, its leadership strong, and its policy direction clear.
The resignations, while noteworthy, will not derail the Anwar administration.
While both Nik Nazmi (left) and Rafizi will be missed in the government, in Malaysia’s current political climate, the resignations of the two are neither an existential threat nor a sign of federal instability, says the writer. — Bernama
As a journalist, I am often asked if the Anwar administration is stable and if his government can win the next general election, purportedly because the predominantly Malay voters are not with him.
The first question is simple to answer – the Unity Government has remained intact. Anwar has the numbers. If he didn’t, the opposition would have tabled a vote of no confidence against him in Parliament at each meeting.
Will he win the next general elections? Well, he has two years more and as they say, even two weeks is a long time in politics.
Anwar Ibrahim enters this moment not from a position of vulnerability, but from a place of demonstrated leadership.
Fresh off the successful Asean Summit hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar has emerged as a key regional statesman, guiding Malaysia’s foreign policy with clarity and principle. Domestically, his administration still commands a parliamentary majority and holds the confidence of a wide-based coalition spanning ethnic, ideological, and regional lines.
A few individual resignations – while unfortunate – do not erode the legitimacy of a government that continues to function with stability and purpose.
The strength of the Cabinet, in any government, does not rest on a few individuals, but on the collective commitment to reform, economic revitalisation, and national unity.
Both the outgoing ministers contributed meaningfully during their tenure but their resignation will not paralyse the machinery of government, nor will it affect the strategic direction of national policy.
Malaysia’s political evolution over the past few years has seen a shift toward coalition-style governance – often messy, occasionally turbulent, but increasingly mature.
In this context, Cabinet reshuffles or resignations are not signs of collapse, but part of the political cycle of coalition management.
Importantly, no major coalition partner has withdrawn support.
There is no mass defection in the PKR, no floor-crossing crisis which the law forbids and certainly no loss of majority. What we see is not the unravelling of a government, but a recalibration – one that allows room for leadership renewal and rebalancing of portfolios.
Crucially, the core agenda of the government – economic recovery, institutional reform, good governance, and social justice – remains untouched.
Key ministries are operational, reforms are moving forward, and public confidence in the government’s policy direction has held steady.
The upcoming Budget discussions, the continued rollout of digital economy initiatives, and major infrastructure projects are all proceeding as scheduled. These are the markers of a functioning, resilient administration – not one in disarray.
Instead of being a setback, these resignations present a chance for the Prime Minister to refresh his Cabinet.
It opens the door for new faces, possibly technocrats or reformists. There are certainly many MPs and technocrats who are qualified or think they are good enough.
Economist Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, who has been helping the government in the background, is one possibility.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Cheang Chung, a central council member, is a 44-year-old researcher and environmental activist. He is pleasant and accessible, and the right fit to handle environment and sustainability causes.
Then, there is Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who successfully campaigned against the Internal Security Act and had served as a Bersih vice-president.
There are many others and it doesn’t matter who they had sided with in the party polls.
The renewal can inject energy and sharpen focus, particularly as the government approaches the mid-point of its term.
The only question is how much of a change Anwar wants to make with the General Election not so far away.
The senatorship of Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz, the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, will expire at the end of the year and Anwar will need to find a replacement.
That’s not a crisis either, but another opportunity for Anwar to reinforce his message of performance, transparency, and unity.
Choosing the right replacements wisely will allow him to strengthen his team while continuing to honour the diversity of the coalition.
