Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said there is the possibility of other ministers or deputy ministers from Rafizi’s faction in PKR also quitting their posts.
He said Anwar also needs to consider the status of investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, whose term as senator ends in December.
“Given the current situation, this might be the right time for a Cabinet reshuffle.
“With Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s resignation, and possibly more to come, a comprehensive reshuffle is necessary to ensure the prime minister has a team fully committed to leading the country for the remainder of the term.
“A Cabinet reshuffle is important not only to fill the vacancies left by the outgoing ministers but also to ensure government stability and maintain public confidence and trust,” he told Bernama.
Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, who failed to retain their positions as PKR deputy president and vice-president, will officially vacate their ministerial posts on June 17 and July 4, respectively.
Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Jazimin Zakaria said the government should consider appointing more technocrats in the event of a Cabinet reshuffle.
“Rafizi’s decision is unhealthy, it is a political emotional reaction. While it may be due to issues of integrity or loyalty to the party, the timing is not right, especially when we are facing a trade war. Therefore, it is worth considering technocrats, prioritising quality and performance,” he said.
However, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali believed that the resignations of Rafizi and Nik Nazmi would not undermine the stability of Anwar’s government.
He said ministers resigning was “a normal occurrence in a democracy” whenever leaders lose their party positions.
“There is a possibility that some ministry-level planning might be affected, but overall, it will not have a major impact on government policy,” he said.
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya agreed, saying the competence and experience of civil servants in the relevant ministries will ensure no disruption to the implementation of previously planned policies.