In a Bernama report, Anwar said while he had received the leave applications and resignation letters from the duo, he had only approved their applications to go on leave.

“…Let them think about it. Personally, I would prefer that they remain in the Cabinet,” he said.

On May 28, economy minister Rafizi Ramli and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad submitted their resignation letters.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) then issued a statement acknowledging their resignation letters but did not state if their resignations had been accepted.

“Any further decision on the matter will be informed later by the prime minister,” the statement read.

Rafizi is on leave until June 16 while Nik Nazmi’s leave ends on July 3.

Nik Nazmi, a two-term MP, failed to defend his position as PKR vice-president at the party’s divisional polls. He was Rafizi’s running mate.

Rafizi lost the PKR deputy president’s post to Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Anwar was speaking to reporters after attending an empowerment seminar and a closed-door meeting with PKR leaders in Melaka today.

During the seminar, Anwar, who is also PKR president, called on party members to heal internal rifts and put aside dissatisfaction following its polls last month.

He also stressed the need for unity and maturity in pursuit of the party’s greater mission.

“Imagine this – I can work with Umno, even hugging it out,” he said.

“Surely we can move past our internal disagreements, too. Let’s move on to the bigger agenda.”