KUALA LUMPUR — DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen has praised party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook’s decision to resign as Transport Minister, describing it as an example of leadership and accountability.
Yii said Loke’s decision reminded him of advice the DAP leader had given him years earlier when he was entrusted to lead DAPSY.
“Leadership is something many desire, but few want to take responsibility for. Make sure you show a good example of how a competent and mature youth leader should be,” Yii quoted Loke as saying.
“I have never forgotten those words, and I have tried my best to make them my compass. Now he has shown us, in the most powerful way, what they truly mean,” he said in a statement posted on social media.
Yii said Loke had chosen to accept responsibility despite the decision over former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conditional pardon being made by another authority.
“Anthony took it upon himself. He resisted calls to ‘sacrifice’ others and chose to bear responsibility even when it was not entirely his to bear. He did so to ensure the public would not lose hope in Malaysia and in the system, at the expense of his own position and personal interest, even though he deserves so much more,” he said.
He added that younger politicians should see leadership as being willing to carry responsibility rather than holding on to positions.
“For those of us who are younger in politics, this is the lesson: leadership is not about holding on to positions, even ones you may deserve. It is about being willing to carry the weight of responsibility so that the interests of the people and the nation are upheld,” Yii said.
He also expressed support for Loke amid criticism following the resignation announcement.
“Thank you, for what you did, and for believing in young leaders like me. Amid the criticism, I hope you stay strong and let your conscience guide you, as you always have.
“I am proud to be in the DAP, and we stand with you, together, for our nation,” he said.
Loke announced that he would offer his resignation as Transport Minister to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following the decision to grant Najib a conditional pardon that allows him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The DAP secretary-general said his resignation would only involve his Cabinet position, while other DAP representatives, including ministers and deputy ministers, would remain in the government to maintain political stability.
Loke made the announcement after a three-hour meeting of DAP’s CEC, which accepted his decision. He said he would submit his resignation letter to Anwar soon.
“I have offered myself to submit my resignation as Transport Minister to the Prime Minister. However, this resignation only involves me as a member of the Cabinet.
“The other members of the Cabinet who represent DAP, including ministers and deputy ministers, as well as those holding other positions, will remain in the government,” he said.
Loke said DAP respected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional authority to grant pardons, despite the party’s reservations over Najib being allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
“There has never been a precedent in this country that one convicted for corruption is given house arrest. However, we still accept the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision.
“However, as a party, DAP feels this is something that is difficult to accept, not just for the party but also for many Malaysians,” he said.
Loke said the decision to only have him resign was intended to balance DAP’s position on the matter with the need to preserve political stability.
“Certain parties want to see us destabilise the government. DAP is very aware of the political games being played and their hopes for us to make a decision that would allow them to achieve their political ambitions. We will not give them room to do this,” he said.
He added that other DAP ministers and representatives could reconsider their positions if necessary.
“The CEC has decided that, for the time being, they will remain in their positions to ensure political stability,” he said.
Loke reiterated that DAP had consistently maintained that accountability and justice should be upheld in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, which occurred during Najib’s tenure as finance minister and prime minister.
“The 1MDB scandal has burdened our country for the past ten years, and it is a very serious crisis.
“DAP has always fought for the truth to be upheld and justice to be served to those responsible,” he said.
He added that his resignation would not affect the Transport Ministry’s operations, saying the ministry would continue functioning as usual.
“Ministers come and go,” he said.
Najib was granted a conditional pardon by the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until April 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.
He has served four years at Kajang Prison after being convicted of corruption involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International.
In January 2024, the same Pardons Board reduced his original 12-year prison sentence by half and cut the RM210 million fine imposed by the court to RM50 million.
His party, Umno, is currently conducting a fundraising drive to raise the RM50 million needed to pay the fine. – September 20, 2026