Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya said Rafizi should have differentiated politics from national service and prioritised the latter by staying on as the economy minister.

“The nation is facing global uncertainties while the Malaysian economy is still recovering. Rafizi’s actions do not reflect a leader who’s determined to serve the country.

“Rafizi’s actions appear to be more out of disappointment and do not reflect the magnanimity expected of a leader,” he told FMT.

Rafizi and his PKR colleague, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, submitted their resignations from their Cabinet posts earlier today following their defeats in the PKR central elections.

Rafizi had lost the deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar, while Nik Nazmi failed to be retained as one of the party’s four vice-presidents.

Rafizi had said that party leaders who lost internal elections should make way for those who had been given a new mandate.

However, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appears to have yet to accept their resignations. The Prime Minister’s Office said their leave applications were approved but “further decisions” would be announced later by Anwar.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Syahruddin Awang Ahmad believed that Rafizi would be able to rebuild his network of support by focusing on issues close to the people.

Syahruddin said the two-term Pandan MP could become a candidate for the prime minister’s post in the next five to 10 years.

“PKR needs to prepare for Rafizi’s new role outside the Cabinet, where he may become an influential ‘voice for the people’,” he said.