Anwar asks Loke to reconsider resignation over Najib pardon

Hangzhou, September 23 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke reiterated his firm stance on resigning as Transport Minister. The Seremban MP declared that he would submit his resignation letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim upon his return from China. Upon his arrival in Hangzhou, he addressed reporters, stating that the decision was made and he would hand in his letter when back home.

Currently accompanying the Prime Minister on a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou at the Chinese government's invitation, Loke proposed his resignation in response to the conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak at a DAP Central Executive Committee meeting on Saturday. He maintained that the other DAP ministers and deputy ministers would continue in the Unity Government.

While traveling from Shanghai to Hangzhou by high-speed train, Anwar indicated he would not hastily decide on Loke's intention to resign, preferring to hear Loke's explanation first. Anwar also warned against the DAP bowing to demands from parties with political interests to withdraw from the government.