Kuala lumpur: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke will resign as Transport Minister as the party's response to the issue involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was granted a conditional pardon to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. He said the resignation letter would be submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim soon. Loke said the decision was reached after a three-hour Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting to discuss the matter.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke proposed the resignation to the CEC, which decided he would step down as a response by the party to recent developments. During a press conference at the DAP headquarters, Loke emphasized that while he would resign as a Cabinet member, other DAP ministers and deputy ministers would remain in the government to ensure continued political stability.
Loke explained that other DAP leaders, although willing to relinquish their positions at any time, would remain in the Cabinet for now, as decided by the CEC, to maintain political stability. He stressed that the resignation of other DAP leaders from the Cabinet could affect political stability and risk undermining the government led by the Prime Minister.
Loke also noted that DAP was aware of the political manoeuvring by certain parties and their expectations that the party would make a decision that could help them achieve their political objectives. He insisted that DAP would not provide such opportunities. Despite his resignation, Loke assured that plans and projects under the Transport Ministry would continue as usual, with no impact on the ministry's operations.
He reiterated that DAP respected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's authority to grant pardons, which he said could not be challenged. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted a conditional pardon to Najib, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to a RM50 million fine.
The Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister's Department stated that the decision was made at the 64th Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya, held at Istana Negara.