ANTHONY Loke will continue to carry out his duties as Transport Minister for the time being, until former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is allowed to return home under a house arrest order.
The DAP Secretary-General personally handed his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting yesterday.
According to him, Anwar asked him to continue his duties temporarily, but he stipulated that his resignation would take effect on the day Najib begins his house arrest.
“During the discussion, he (Anwar) advised me to continue my duties for the time being. He will make a decision, but I stated that a specific timeframe was also necessary.
“So, that timeframe is the day Najib returns home; that is when my resignation will take effect,” he said during a press conference today.
Loke said the decision to resign was made based on DAP's stance regarding the issue of Najib's house arrest, a move the party does not agree with.
“We do not know when he (Najib) will be released. Perhaps tomorrow—who knows? Even I do not know when he will be released,” he added.
He emphasised that the resignation was an action taken in his capacity as DAP Secretary-General to underscore the party's position on the matter.
“The decision stems from the party's response and stance regarding the issue of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest, with which we do not agree.
“So, what is our course of action regarding our stance? It is for me, as the secretary, to resign in order to assert the party's position on this issue,” he said.
Loke stated that, for the time being, there is no successor lined up to take over the role of Transport Minister following his departure.
“There is no successor yet. That has not been decided,” he said.
During an emergency meeting of the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC), Loke announced his resignation as Transport Minister in response to the decision regarding the conditional pardon granted to Najib.
He added that, in the meantime, DAP Cabinet members, Deputy Ministers, and those holding other government posts would remain in their respective positions to ensure political stability. – September 29, 2026