DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has announced that he will resign as Transport Minister in response to the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Loke said the decision was reached during an emergency meeting of DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Saturday, after he proposed stepping down from the Cabinet.
He said other DAP Cabinet members, deputy ministers and those holding other government positions would remain in their posts for the time being to ensure political stability.
“The CEC has made its decision. Although the others are also ready and willing to resign at any time, the CEC has decided that, for now, they will remain in their positions to ensure political stability,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.
Loke said DAP was aware that some parties were hoping the party would withdraw from the government, which he said could potentially trigger political instability, undermine the Prime Minister’s majority and confidence in the government, and possibly lead to Parliament being dissolved or a change in government.
“DAP is fully aware of the political manoeuvring by certain parties and their hopes that we will make a decision that would allow them to achieve their political ambitions. We will not give them that opportunity,” he said.
Loke said his resignation was DAP’s way of expressing its position while avoiding a move that could destabilise the government.
He confirmed that the decision to resign was final and that he would submit his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim soon.
“The decision has been made and I will submit my resignation as a response by the party to what has happened,” he said.
Despite his planned departure, Loke said the Transport Ministry would continue operating as usual, with existing plans and projects proceeding as scheduled.
He said he needed a short period to settle several outstanding matters at the ministry before discussing the transition with Anwar.
“The ministry does not stop functioning when a minister resigns. The plans that have already been made and the projects that have already been implemented will continue,” he said.
Loke also explained why DAP had decided against having all its Cabinet members resign.
He said such a move could potentially cause the government to collapse and create an opportunity for its political opponents to challenge the stability of Anwar’s administration.
“If everyone resigns now, the government could collapse. This is what our opponents want. We do not want to give them that ammunition,” he said.
Loke said DAP was aware that its opponents could seek to exploit the situation if all DAP ministers vacated their positions, adding that the party had therefore chosen to make its position clear through his resignation while keeping its other representatives in government.
The decision came after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.
Loke had previously said DAP respected the King’s constitutional power to grant pardons.
