Rafizi Ramli’s recent announcement that he will step down from his ministerial role has drawn sharp criticism from UMNO Johor, which described the move as a strategic exit rather than an honorable one. The Economy Minister, who revealed that his resignation will take effect on June 17, cited his defeat to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the PKR 2025 central election as the reason, claiming he no longer holds the party’s mandate to serve in the Cabinet.
However, UMNO Johor Bahru’s Information Chief Ahmad Solehin Abd Ghani has dismissed this explanation, suggesting instead that Rafizi is attempting to avoid the responsibilities he has failed to meet. The resignation, according to Solehin, is less about accountability and more about sidestepping the pressures of unfulfilled promises.
He questioned the timing of Rafizi’s decision, pointing out that the resignation only came after losing his bid for the party’s deputy presidency. With no push from the Prime Minister to remove him, the exit, in Solehin’s view, raises doubts about Rafizi’s true motivation.
Solehin criticized the minister’s record since assuming office, alleging that none of Rafizi’s major campaign promises—particularly those related to cost of living, wage improvements, and economic reforms—had materialized. Despite gaining public support through strong rhetoric and criticism of UMNO and Barisan Nasional in the past, Rafizi, he argued, had proven ineffective when finally entrusted with real power.
He also referenced Rafizi’s own admission of feeling uncomfortable in his ministerial role, calling it a clear sign of failure. To express such feelings, Solehin argued, reflects a lack of commitment to the role entrusted to him by the people. A minister who views public service as a burden, he said, should not be celebrated for leaving; rather, it exposes a deeper issue of inability to serve under pressure.
Solehin warned party members and the public not to be misled by what he called a “noble” narrative surrounding Rafizi’s exit. The move, in his words, was not about principle but about walking away from responsibility.
In his closing remarks, Solehin asserted that Rafizi’s legacy would not be one of reform, but of rhetoric—good at shaping perceptions but lacking in tangible policy delivery. To him, the resignation marks not a political statement, but an escape from unfulfilled duties.
Information Source: WOB
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