Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has yet to accept Anthony Loke’s resignation as Transport Minister, saying he wants to discuss the decision with the DAP secretary-general first.
Anwar also jokingly suggested that Loke could take a short break instead of stepping down from the Cabinet.
“I have not accepted Anthony Loke’s resignation. If he wants to take a short leave, that’s fine, but if he wants to resign, we need to discuss it again,” he said.
He was speaking at the Grand Finale: Jelajah Harapan, Melaka Rumah Kita event at the Hang Tuah Jaya Parliamentary People’s Service Centre on Thursday.
Loke announced on Tuesday that his resignation would take effect immediately, following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.
Anwar said there was no reason for a minister who was clean and trustworthy to resign.
He praised Loke as a hardworking minister who had introduced numerous proposals, projects and programmes to improve services for the public and taxi drivers.
“He is among the hardest-working ministers and is well regarded by officers at the ministry,” he said.
Anwar questioned why a good minister was being urged to leave while those he considered poor performers were being told to remain in office.
“Someone like him, who is good, is being told to resign. Those who are bad are being told to stay. Has the world turned upside down?” he said.
