TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke’s decision to set a six-month deadline for delivering significant reforms has been criticised as a political miscalculation, with analysts warning that the move risks raising expectations the unity government may be unable to fulfil.
Political analyst James Chin said Loke “made a mistake” by overreacting to his party’s performance in Sabah and publicly committing to a rigid reform timeline, including progress on the long-debated Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
Chin argued that such reforms are unlikely to materialise within the timeframe, noting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also constrained by his need to strengthen support among Malay voters.
“Anwar is unlikely to concede too much on issues viewed as favouring Chinese-majority constituencies, as doing so could undermine efforts to position himself as a leader with strong Malay backing.”
“He needs to be seen as a Malay champion that is why is very vocal on certain issues such as the conflict in Palestine,” said the academic at Tasmania University.
In a recent podcast, Loke said he was willing to resign immediately if his departure would lead to the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
Speaking on his podcast, 关键陆点 (Critical Point with Loke), the Transport Minister said he could step down at any time but questioned whether that would actually solve anything.
Loke responded to calls from grassroots party members after DAP’s poor showing in the recent Sabah state election, during which some demanded that the party cut ties with Anwar’s unity government.
The Seremban MP also took aim at PKR secretary-general Datuk Fuziah Salleh, calling her announcement that Pakatan Harapan (PH) would join the Sabah state government “completely wrong.”
He said DAP was completely unaware of any such press conference and called it an “embarrassing announcement that became a laughing stock.”
Another analyst Dr Azmi Hassan offered a similar assessment, questioning both the timing and effectiveness of DAP’s recent ultimatum to Anwar seeking progress on the UEC and broader institutional reforms.
He argued that DAP’s leverage within the unity government has diminished in the aftermath of the Sabah state election.
“The time is not on DAP’s side. I think DAP doesn’t have the mandate or influence, especially after the Sabah election,” Azmi said.
“What they are trying to do is to show their supporters that even while in government, they can still ask for something like the UEC, which has been an ongoing issue for a long time.”
“But the timing is not right after what happened in Sabah. They don’t have the moral obligation to make such demands, including on institutional reforms,” he explained.
Azmi also backed Fuziah for the announcement she made in announcing Pakatan Harapan’s support to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Azmi described her stance as pragmatic in light of Sabah’s fluid political environment.
“The strategy from Fuziah is to back Hajiji’s state government. The strategy works because what Sabah needs right now is stability,” he said.
“What she did was correct. Although some may laugh it off, it was the right measure taken by Fuziah.” – December 12, 2025
