KUALA LUMPUR – Outgoing Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has reaffirmed his loyalty to PKR, hinting that neither he nor Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli will betray the party despite stepping down from their ministerial roles.
“We resign, we will not betray the party,” Nik Nazmi wrote in a brief post on platform X, amid swirling speculation that several PKR lawmakers — including himself and Rafizi — had withdrawn support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The speculation, widely circulated on social media, was dismissed by PKR vice-president and fellow Cabinet member Chang Lih Kang, who labelled the claims as “baseless and absurd”.
Both Rafizi and Nik Nazmi had on Wednesday submitted their resignation letters, with Rafizi’s taking effect on June 17 and Nik Nazmi’s on July 4. The two cited their recent defeats in the party elections as the reason for relinquishing their Cabinet positions.
Despite their exits, Prime Minister Anwar said he has yet to consider any Cabinet reshuffle, noting that both MPs are currently on leave.
“Not yet (thinking about a reshuffle), they (Rafizi and Nik Nazmi) are still on leave, we cannot replace someone who is on leave,” he told reporters after attending a gathering with staff of the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya. Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
In a more personal reflection shared on Instagram earlier this week, Nik Nazmi said he felt no resentment over his loss in the recent party polls, although he admitted to being disappointed.
“It would be unnatural for me to not be disappointed, but I feel no bitterness or anger,” he wrote, thanking supporters and his campaign team for their dedication.
He also revisited his political journey, recalling how he joined PKR at the age of 19 — a time when the party was far from popular — and made personal sacrifices, including repaying his UK scholarship to work full-time for Anwar.
“Months after working at PNB, I decided to repay my UK scholarship and work full time for (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, while my colleagues were planning their careers in corporate Malaysia,” he said.
The Setiawangsa MP included several photos highlighting key moments in his political career — including his arrests during protests like Black505 and KitaLawan — as well as his electoral debut in 2008, when he became the youngest candidate in the race and helped end Barisan Nasional’s grip on Selangor.
“Five years later, we failed to gain a majority of Parliamentary seats despite having the popular vote. When Anwar and Rafizi Ramli asked me to book the stadium for the Black505 rally, I agreed without hesitation,” he wrote.
He said his belief in progressive politics remains unshaken, describing the current moment as a “bend in the road” rather than the end of the journey.
“I have been fortunate to have been given the privilege to serve at a very young age. I have been blessed with the friendship of the many ordinary Malaysians who support the struggle,” he said.
“Whatever lies ahead, I remain committed to serving the nation with all my heart and soul. God is the best of planners.”
Nik Nazmi, who was first elected to Parliament in 2018, failed to retain his vice-presidency in the recent PKR elections, losing out to four others — Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Deputy Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
He also lost his bid to defend the Setiawangsa division chief post, falling to actor-director Datuk Afdlin Shauki, who secured 631 votes to his 563. - May 29, 2025
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