KUALA LUMPUR: Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, has officially tendered his resignation from the Cabinet to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, citing his recent defeat in the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) party elections as the primary reason for stepping down.
In his Facebook post on Wednesday, Rafizi confirmed that his resignation will take effect on June 17 and that he will be on annual leave until then.
He emphasised that he no longer holds the mandate from his party to represent and implement the people-centric agenda championed by PKR within the government.
“I entered politics to foster a new political culture centred on accountability and the people’s mandate.
“Following my loss in the recent PKR elections, it is only right that I pave the way for new leadership to take my place,” he said.
Rafizi, who is the Pandan MP, also urged the Cabinet to continue with bold reforms introduced under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), especially in the education sector, despite his departure.
“I would like to confirm that 13MP has been finalised and is ready to be tabled in the next parliamentary session,” he added.
Rafizi, 47, hails from Besut, Terengganu and is an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Leeds, the United Kingdom.
He began his career as a chartered accountant and held senior positions in the private sector before venturing into politics in the late 2000s.
Known for his data-driven approach and policy advocacy, Rafizi gained prominence for his role in pushing for economic reforms and greater transparency in governance.
He served as PKR vice president and was re-elected to Parliament in 2022 after a brief hiatus from active politics.
Rafizi expressed gratitude to the civil service, media, and stakeholders who supported him during his tenure and reaffirmed his belief in the long-term economic restructuring agenda laid out by the Ministry of Economy.
“Our journey towards building a stronger economic structure and achieving high-income nation status is far from over.
“We must remain committed to making difficult but necessary decisions for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
His departure marks a significant shift in the economic leadership of the Unity Government, with speculation mounting over who will succeed him in the pivotal role.
