Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed appreciation to Anthony Loke following his resignation as Transport Minister, praising him as a leader who stood firm by his principles and convictions.
ALOR GAJAH: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today expressed his appreciation to Anthony Loke for his contributions during his tenure as Transport Minister, describing him as a leader who stood firm by his principles and convictions.
“I would like to thank him for his service as a Cabinet member. He happened to sit beside me during Cabinet meetings, and we will certainly miss him.
“I wish him all the best outside the Cabinet,” he told reporters after attending the 2026 RISDA Smallholders’ Prosperity Programme and Open Day here today.
Earlier, Loke announced his immediate resignation as Transport Minister following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision today allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
The DAP secretary-general said his decision was consistent with what he had announced last Friday.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered Najib, 73, to serve the remainder of his SRC International Sdn Bhd prison sentence under house arrest at his residence in Langgak Duta, with immediate effect.
Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin issued the order after setting aside a directive issued by the High Court Criminal Registry on Nov 6.
Under the new order, Najib will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, before returning to Kajang Prison on Aug 24, 2028, to serve his prison sentence for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
Commenting on the court’s decision, Ahmad Zahid expressed hope that it would put an end to the controversy surrounding the matter.
He said all parties, particularly legal practitioners and those responsible for legal affairs, should respect the decree and authority of the King as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“I hope the developments surrounding this matter will serve as a lesson to all of us, whether as legal practitioners or those responsible for legal affairs, to abide by the King’s decrees and authority, as provisions enshrined in the Constitution are supreme.
“Hopefully, we can close this chapter and put an end to further controversy,” said the UMNO president.
Ahmad Zahid also expressed his gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia for granting Najib a conditional pardon.
