Loke resigns as Transport Minister, DAP stays in Anwar’s government after Najib’s conditional pardon

Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke resigned on Saturday (Sep 19) over the conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak by the king. The Democratic Action Party (DAP) other ministers will continue serving in the Cabinet to ensure political stability. Loke stated that the party reached a decision after three hours of debate, acknowledging the difficulty in accepting the royal pardon.

He reiterated the party's commitment to defending the rule of law and fighting corruption. Najib will serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, provided he pays a RM50 million fine. The decision has put Malaysia in "unchartered" legal territory and may open the door for other convicted prisoners to seek similar treatment.

Analysts warned that the DAP withdrawal from the Cabinet could pose a significant threat to Anwar Ibrahim's administration, potentially forcing early general elections. The DAP holds 40 parliamentary seats in Malaysia's 222-member lower house, the largest share in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.