Malaysian Minister Resigns After Losing Party Post to PM’s Daughter

Malaysia’s Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli, announced his resignation from the cabinet on Wednesday, following his defeat in the ruling PKR party’s internal elections.

He lost his position as deputy president to Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Rafizi stated that his loss meant he “no longer has the mandate from my party to translate the people’s agenda… into government policy,” aligning his decision with democratic principles where losing party leaders step aside.

Nurul Izzah secured nearly 10,000 votes for the deputy president role, significantly more than Rafizi’s approximately 4,000.

Earlier this month, Rafizi had publicly committed to resigning from his cabinet post if he lost the party election. His resignation will become effective on June 17.

The contest between Rafizi and Nurul Izzah was contentious, drawing accusations of nepotism, though the Prime Minister has dismissed such claims.

Nurul Izzah, a three-term MP, is a prominent political figure known for advocating reform, having risen to prominence during her father’s imprisonment in the late 1990s.