DAP sec-gen’s Cabinet quit offer over Najib house arrest is his own call, says Umno veep Khaled Nordin

Kota Tinggi, September 20 — Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin clarified that DAP's secretary-general Anthony Loke’s offer to resign as Transport Minister is his individual decision, not a response from the party, following former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's conditional pardon. Loke made the announcement after the DAP's central executive committee meeting, stating that the party's response was to keep other DAP ministers in the unity government to maintain stability.

Khaled, who is also Defence Minister, emphasized that the decision to grant Najib a conditional pardon and house arrest was within the King's constitutional authority, and Umno respected this decision. Loke had previously expressed difficulty in accepting Najib's conditional pardon, stating that it was solely his choice to resign, while other DAP ministers would remain in the government.

Najib received a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve his remaining six-year sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, following the reduction of his original six-year prison term and RM42 million fine by the Pardons Board in 2024.