Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has weighed in on the growing debate over ministerial resignations, arguing that the issue should not be driven by political rhetoric but by whether ministers can effectively serve the rakyat when confidence within the government has weakened.
In a lengthy social media post, Rafizi described the latest exchanges over who should resign as another episode in what he called Malaysia’s recurring “political skit” surrounding calls for ministers to step down.
His remarks follow recent public exchanges involving political leaders over whether ministers should resign after criticism of the federal government surfaced during the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign.
Confidence is essential for effective governance
Rafizi said Malaysia has little tradition of voluntary ministerial resignations, noting that politicians generally remain in office for as long as possible.
Reflecting on his own departure from the Cabinet, he said he was among the few politicians in the country’s history to voluntarily relinquish a ministerial position.
According to Rafizi, ministers take an oath to serve the people and discharge their responsibilities to the best of their ability. However, he argued that this can only be done effectively if they enjoy the confidence and trust of the prime minister, who directs the administration and government machinery.
Without that confidence, he said, even well-intentioned policies and proposals would struggle to gain institutional backing or be implemented effectively.
Rafizi said this was the principle behind his own resignation, adding that it was better for someone who had the prime minister’s confidence to lead the ministry and ensure government policies could be carried out.
Debate should focus on public interest
He argued that the discussion over ministerial resignations should instead centre on whether Malaysians benefit from ministers remaining in office when mutual trust and confidence within the government have visibly deteriorated.
Rafizi also criticised both sides of the political divide.
He claimed that Umno, Barisan Nasional, PAS and Perikatan Nasional were more focused on efforts to take over the federal government than addressing issues affecting the public.
He also suggested that if Umno continued supporting Anwar Ibrahim’s administration while publicly expressing differing views, the unity government risked appearing inconsistent.
Rafizi further alleged that some Umno ministers who had previously praised the prime minister while serving in the Cabinet were now openly critical, describing the situation as politically contradictory.
Political manoeuvring over governance
Rafizi acknowledged that Anwar and Pakatan Harapan would seek to preserve the unity government but argued that the current tensions stemmed from the decision to include Umno in the administration, resulting in eight Umno ministers joining the Cabinet.
Looking ahead, he expressed scepticism that ministers would prioritise the oath they took upon assuming office, saying political manoeuvring had increasingly taken precedence over governing.
He concluded that while many Malaysians may be frustrated by the current political climate, it reflects a political culture that has long prioritised the pursuit of power over principles and effective governance.
