KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — Anthony Loke Siew Fook will step down from his position as Transport Minister in the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government following the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said DAP will remain in the federal unity government, with its ministers continuing to serve in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet. 

“We respect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s pardoning powers but as a party, DAP has its own stance on this matter (Najib’s conditional pardon) and we feel this is something that is hard for Malaysians to accept.

“So, after discussing what the party’s response should be for almost three hours, I have offered to resign as Transport Minister,” Loke told reporters after chairing DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) meeting at the party headquarters in Pudu today.

“The resignation will only involve me, while the other Cabinet members from DAP will continue in the government,” he added.

Loke said his colleagues were also willing to resign from their respective positions at any given time but stressed that DAP’s backing for Anwar’s unity government was crucial to prevent attempts to topple the federal government.

Loke added that he would submit his resignation letter to Anwar soon. However, he will stay on as DAP’s secretary-general and as the Seremban MP. 

When asked about the Transport Ministry’s operations after his resignation, Loke said: “Ministers come and go. Of course, I will require some time because there are some outstanding work. 

“I’ll discuss with the Prime Minister but it won’t be long. The projects that have been approved will go on,” he added. 

DAP came under heavy pressure from party grassroots and supporters after His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, consented to a conditional pardon for Najib yesterday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

The conditional pardon, however, is subject to Najib settling his RM50 million fine.

Najib has been serving his 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison following his conviction in the SRC International case in August 2022. 

His jail term was subsequently halved to six years and his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million by the Pardons Board in 2024.