Anthony Loke resigns as Malaysia Transport Minister over Najib pardon

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has resigned from the Malaysian Cabinet in protest against the conditional royal pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Loke stated the decision was a strategic move by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to register dissent without triggering a full political crisis or providing an opportunity for opponents to destabilize the Unity Government.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Loke to reconsider his resignation, advising the DAP not to succumb to political pressure. Anwar noted that Loke had done nothing wrong and expressed respect for the party’s principles regarding corruption.

Despite his resignation announcement, Loke continued his official duties in Beijing, where he met with Chinese Transport Minister Liu Wei. During this visit, Malaysia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transport Cooperation, covering land, rail, maritime, air transport, logistics, and green technology. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) signed an MoU on civil aviation safety cooperation to enhance standards and facilitate aeronautical services.