KUALA LUMPUR: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad is the second Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) minister who quits the Cabinet.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister who failed to defend his position as the PKR vice president in the party election last week, said he had tendered resignation.

He joined Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli who quit after failing to defend the PKR deputy presidency and lost to Nurul Izzah Anwar. 

In a statement, Nik Nazmi said he had submitted the resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

His resignation takes effect on July 4 and he is on leave until July 3.

Nik Nazmi is the only incumbent who failed to defend his position as vice president by 101 votes.

Three other vice presidents defended their positions and they are Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang.

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R. Ramanan replaces Nik Nazmi as one of the four PKR vice presidents.

Nik Nazmi said he was appointed a minister in his capacity as a PKR vice president. Since he had failed to defend the position, he decided to resign as the minister.

He thanked civil servants in the ministry, partners in the civic society, the private sector and members of public working together to initiate reform during his tenure as the minister.

Nik Nazmi said he would be focusing on serving the Setiawangsa parliamentary constituency as a member of parliament.

He quoted the late British member of parliament Tony Benn who said: “I now want more time to devote to politics and more freedom to do so.”