Anthony Loke Offers to Resign as Transport Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook has offered to resign as Transport Minister following the decision to grant former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak a conditional pardon.
He said the decision was made following an emergency meeting of the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC), which lasted nearly three hours after beginning at 3pm yesterday.
Loke explained that the offer to resign involved only himself as a member of the Cabinet, while other DAP representatives would remain in the government.
He said the decision was made to prevent DAP’s political actions from causing political instability, while also avoiding giving certain parties an opportunity to undermine the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“At this stage, the resignation only involves me as a member of the Cabinet, while other DAP office-bearers will remain in the government.
“Other Cabinet members representing DAP, including ministers, deputy ministers and other office-bearers, will remain in the government for the time being,” he told a press conference following the emergency CEC meeting on Najib’s conditional pardon at DAP headquarters yesterday.
He said the decision came after the nearly three-hour meeting to discuss the latest developments concerning the conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Yesterday, Najib was granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.
The decision was made at the 64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
According to Loke, DAP nevertheless respects the pardoning power of Sultan Ibrahim, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but the party has its own position on the decision, which he said was difficult for DAP and many Malaysians to accept.
He said DAP had from the outset fought for justice and accountability over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and wanted those responsible to face appropriate punishment.
“I will submit my resignation letter to the Prime Minister in the near future, but I need some time to settle several outstanding matters at the ministry,” he said.
Utusan Malaysia