DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli did not attend the first day of the resumed Dewan Rakyat sitting, marking his first absence from Parliament since stepping down as Minister of Economy last month.
His aide confirmed his non-attendance when contacted earlier today.
Following his resignation, Rafizi’s seat has been moved from Block B, where cabinet members sit, to Block D, designated for government backbenchers. He is now positioned in the third row beside Chow Kon Yeow, the MP for Batu Kawan.
Previously, Rafizi sat in the front row of Block B, adjacent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who remains seated in Block A—the area reserved for ministers within the unity government.
Similarly, former Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH–Setiawangsa) has been relocated to Block D following his own resignation, which took effect on 4 July.
Nik Nazmi now sits in the third row alongside V. Sivakumar (PH–Batu Gajah) and Ramkarpal Singh (PH–Bukit Gelugor).
Rafizi stepped down from cabinet after losing the PKR deputy presidency to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the party’s central leadership elections held on 23 May. His resignation took effect on 17 June.
Nik Nazmi, who failed to retain his position as PKR vice-president, also resigned from cabinet shortly thereafter. - July 21, 2025
