Politics1 min read

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke's resignation to take effect 'immediately' after court grants Najib house arrest

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Democratic Action Party leader fulfilled his prior commitment to vacate his cabinet post as soon as the former premier's detention was shifted from prison to his residence. He initially declared his plan to step down in September to demonstrate party opposition to a conditional royal pardon. Although he had planned an earlier exit, he temporarily postponed the move at the behest of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Key points

  • The departure reflects the Democratic Action Party's formal protest against the condition…: The departure reflects the Democratic Action Party's formal protest against the conditional royal pardon granted to Najib Razak.
  • Anthony Loke upheld his commitment to vacate his cabinet role the moment Najib's house ar…: Anthony Loke upheld his commitment to vacate his cabinet role the moment Najib's house arrest commenced.
  • The resignation exposes political tensions between coalition partners governing Malaysia…: The resignation exposes political tensions between coalition partners governing Malaysia alongside Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Anthony Loke first announced his resignation in September to protest the conditional royal pardon granted to Najib Razak, but stayed on temporarily at Prime Minister's Anwar Ibrahim's request.

KUALA LUMPUR: Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief Anthony Loke said on Tuesday (Nov 10) that he will resign as Malaysia's transport minister "effective immediately", following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to allow former prime minister Najib Razak to serve his sentence under house arrest.

Loke said the move was in line with the stance he announced last Friday that he will step down when Najib begins his house arrest.

“This decision upholds the principles and stance that I have previously explained,” he said in a statement.

Loke first announced his resignation in September to protest the conditional royal pardon granted to Najib.

He later said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had asked him to remain in his post temporarily, and that he would remain as transport minister until Najib began his house arrest.

Loke – whose DAP is part of the governing Pakatan Harapan coalition with Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) –…

Politics

More in Politics