KUALA LUMPUR: A minister will be chosen to temporarily take on the responsibilities of the Economy Ministry, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this when asked on the fate of Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli who is to officially resign as Economy Minister on Tuesday (June 17).
"I think that there is no need for any reshuffle at the moment and I wish Rafizi all the best.
"He had served very well as the Economy Minister.
"I will now have to decide which minister will carry out the responsibilities," he said when met by reporters after launching Energy Asia 2025 here on Monday (June 16).
In a Facebook post last Friday (June 13), Rafizi clocked out as Economy Minister after going to his office to settle some work and pack his things.
On May 28, Rafizi confirmed that he would be going on leave till June 16 and had submitted his resignation letter, effective June 17, to Anwar.
On May 7, Rafizi said he would be ready to step down from his party and Cabinet posts if he lost the deputy president post in the PKR polls.
The Pandan MP said he would return to be a grassroots level leader and campaign intensively for the party.
Rafizi was defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar for the PKR deputy president’s post in the party polls.
Meanwhile, when asked if this meant that he had accepted Rafizi's resignation, Anwar merely responded by saying the date had yet to expire.
"Give some space, why ask me if I have accepted.
"He is still on leave and the day hasn't arrived yet," he said.
On the fate of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Anwar said that no decision has been made yet.
"I will always wait and give chance. I had given my views that if can, he should continue (as minister)," he said.
Nik Nazmi had also submitted his resignation effective July 1 after failing to defend his vice-president post in the recent PKR polls.
