“Not yet. Not yet. They are still on break. We cannot replace them while they are on break,” he told reporters at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here today when asked if the Cabinet would be reshuffled.

While Anwar did not clarify who he was referring to by “they”, the PMO yesterday confirmed that he had received the resignation letters of Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and approved their applications for leave.

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi announced their resignations as economy minister and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister​ yesterday following their defeat at the ​recent PKR central leadership elections.

Rafizi previously said party leaders who lose internal elections should make way for those who have been given a new mandate, adding that this was the practice in countries that upheld democratic principles.

Rafizi lost the PKR deputy presidency to Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, while Nik Nazmi failed to defend his PKR vice-presidency.

They will officially vacate their ministerial posts on June 17 and July 4, respectively.

Following their resignations, political analysts told Bernama that Anwar would need to reshuffle his Cabinet to ensure that he has a team fully committed to leading the country for the remainder of the term.

Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said there was the possibility of other ministers or deputy ministers from Rafizi’s faction in PKR also quitting their posts.

He said Anwar would also need to consider the status of investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, whose term as a senator ends in December.