KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Transport Minister Anthony Loke to reconsider his decision to offer his resignation from the Cabinet following the issue surrounding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conditional pardon.
Anwar said DAP should not give in to pressure from those with political interests who were seeking to weaken the unity government by pushing the party to leave the administration, local media reported.
Defending the party’s position, Anwar questioned calls for DAP to withdraw from the government should Loke step down as its secretary-general.
“Some people say, why Anthony Loke? All of DAP should leave. Whose suggestion is that? Why should he leave? He did nothing wrong. He did not propose the pardon decision; in fact, he tried his best to oppose it.
“So I think DAP should not bow to pressure from people with vested interests, because they want the government to become unstable. They want to find ways to weaken the government using these dirty tactics,” he told reporters while travelling on a high-speed train from Shanghai to Hangzhou, as quoted by Harian Metro
Anwar was commenting on calls for Loke to resign and for DAP to withdraw from the government following the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision involving Najib.
The board last week granted Najib a conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Anwar said he would hold further discussions with Loke soon to hear his formal explanation and to seek the minister’s reconsideration of his decision.
The Prime Minister acknowledged Loke’s and DAP’s longstanding stance against kleptocracy and corruption, saying this had made it difficult for the party to respond to the Pardons Board’s decision.
“I give space and I do not want to rush because I respect his decision. He is not opposing my decision or the MADANI Government and cooperation in the Unity Government.
“He thinks it is difficult to defend the decision of the Pardons Board when his party, and even Pakatan Harapan (PH), from the beginning had a very firm stance on this matter,” he said.
Anwar also revealed that the issue and views surrounding the matter had been conveyed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, including the firm position taken by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar during the Pardons Board meeting.
However, he reminded all parties to understand the limitations of executive powers under the principles of the Federal Constitution, as the final decision falls under the consideration and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Prime Minister also criticised attempts by certain politicians to portray the matter as evidence of a compromise or secret arrangement between him and Umno’s leadership.
He said his administration’s priority remained steering the country responsibly, maintaining political stability, preserving good relations with the Malay Rulers, and driving economic growth.
On September 21, DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) decided that Loke’s offer to resign as Transport Minister was a final decision that should be respected.
DAP CEC deputy secretary-general Hannah Yeoh said the party’s top leadership had considered various views and suggestions before reaching the decision during its meeting on Saturday.
“CEC has met for a long time and various suggestions were given and opinions were heard. The final decision, which is the final decision of the CEC, as the highest decision-making body, decided that Anthony Loke offers to resign.
“… and that is the decision of the CEC. Other discussions I do not want to reveal because that was within the CEC discussion but we have to respect the decision made by the CEC,” she said.
She was speaking at a press conference on the 2026 Deepavali Bazaar in Kuala Lumpur today.
Hannah was commenting on the CEC’s decision following DAP’s position on the conditional pardon granted to Najib.
On Saturday, Loke offered to relinquish his Cabinet position following the party’s stance on the matter.
However, Loke stressed that the resignation would only involve himself, while other DAP ministers and deputy ministers would remain in the administration to ensure the country’s political stability. – September 23, 2026