All eyes are now on PKR president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s next move, following the resignations of Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from his cabinet in the wake of their defeat in the party election.
The political fallout after last Saturday’s PKR election has sparked speculation on who might be next to tender their resignation, and who might take their place.
Although Nurul Izzah Anwar has clinched the party’s number two post, she had said on May 9 that she is not interested in any cabinet position even if she wins the deputy presidency.
As for the four PKR vice presidents, there is much speculation about whether R Ramanan, who is currently the entrepreneur development and cooperatives deputy minister, would be elevated to a minister.
Ramanan’s meteoric rise
He is the only newcomer to the party’s vice-presidency line-up, with the other three being incumbents from the previous term.
Ramanan previously served as MIC treasurer. His meteoric rise through the party ranks in the last four years was criticised by Rafizi, who said newcomers should start from the bottom and work their way up.
Despite this, Ramanan has garnered the second largest number of votes out of the four vice presidents, after Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
For Amirudin, recent developments have revived speculation since last year that he would be moved to a federal position.
According to this line of argument, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz would replace Amirudin as the new menteri besar as the former eyes his next move ahead of the expiry of his senatorial appointment in December 2025.
Zafrul would lose his cabinet position upon the expiry of his senatorial position, and he cannot be reappointed because he has already reached his term limit.
However, it should be noted that Amirudin had said last year he would remain in his post until the end of his term in 2028, citing advice from the Selangor ruler to ensure unity and stability.
Meanwhile, Zafrul has remained in Umno as a supreme council member, despite previously approaching PKR about the possibility of joining the party.
He had also denied talks about becoming the Selangor Menteri Besar last year.
In addition, Zafrul is not currently a Selangor assemblyperson. This means that in order to be eligible to be menteri besar, he must first win a state seat in Selangor.
Kamil, the next big thing?
The other vice presidents are Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
Other noteworthy winners and losers in the PKR election include the newly minted PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim, who is also Anwar’s political secretary in the latter’s capacity as finance minister.
Kamil had won his post uncontested. His predecessor, Adam Adli Abdul Halim, presently the deputy youth and sports minister, has contested and won a seat in the central leadership council instead.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail does not hold a party position despite holding a vital cabinet portfolio.
He had previously considered contesting for deputy presidency but ultimately decided against it to pave the way for Nurul Izzah.
Meanwhile, Deputy National Unity Minister K Saraswathy lost her bid to become a central leadership council member and the Bukit Bintang division chief. She was previously an appointed PKR vice-president and did not seek election to the post.
Earlier today, both Rafizi and Nik Nazmi announced that they have tendered their resignations.
Rafizi, who previously said he would resign to be a backbencher if he lost the election, said he no longer has the party’s mandate to translate its agenda into government programmes.
Nik Nazmi had not made a similar pledge to resign, but cited his failure to defend his post as a major consideration behind his decision.
Rafizi and Nik Nazmi will be clearing their annual leave until their last day in office on June 17 and July 4, respectively. - FMT
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