Rafizi spotted at Asean Summit in role as economy minister

Summary

• Rafizi Ramli is seen at the Asean Summit today performing his role as the economy minister.

• This is despite his earlier vow to quit as minister if he loses the PKR election.

• Rafizi is seen shaking hands with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other Asean delegates.

Rafizi Ramli was spotted at the 46th Asean Summit today, in what could be his swansong appearance as economy minister.

Speculations surrounding the former PKR deputy president’s minister status follow his earlier vow to resign if he lost in the recently concluded PKR election, which saw him defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar.

According to Astro Awani, Rafizi attended the 8am session in the summit, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan were also present.

Upon Rafizi’s arrival, he was sighted shaking hands with Anwar and other Asean delegates.

The summit, which is being held for two days starting yesterday, is taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

When met by reporters, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said he had no further information on whether Rafizi had followed through on his own words.

“Asean isn’t over yet. Today is the second day. Asean GCC Summit is happening right now.

“I have no further information on this (Rafizi’s resignation),” said the communications minister, who is also a newly elected PKR central leadership council member.

Rafizi made his first public appearance today after a notable absence during the last day of PKR’s national congress in Johor Bahru on Saturday.

Be a regular MP

On May 10, Rafizi said that if he fails to defend his deputy presidency, he would resign as a minister and become a regular MP.

Nurul Izzah won the post by a landslide, with Rafizi bagging just 28 percent of votes.

Following the defeat, Rafizi said he remained resolute, vowing to press on in his fight for a better Malaysia.

Last night, it was reported that Anwar, who is the PKR president, ordered the party’s newly elected leadership to meet and have a post-mortem of the election as well as to decide on appointed office bearers.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who retained his vice-presidency in the party, said the meeting will be held in a few days.

He said that on the agenda is also a discussion on an appointed post for Rafizi.

However, Rafizi has indicated that he is not interested in any party positions should he lose the deputy presidency.

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