Political analysts say Transport Minister Anthony Loke should remain in Cabinet following his resignation offer over Najib Razak’s house arrest to prevent Umno from gaining greater sway.
PETALING JAYA: Transport Minister Anthony Loke should remain in the Cabinet, as his resignation could inadvertently hand Umno greater weight and influence in the Unity government, said International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Syaza Shukri.
She said Loke’s resignation would be largely symbolic and would not bring any substantive change to the government’s position while playing into Umno’s wish for DAP to leave.
“If Loke leaves, Umno will have more weight and thus more say in Cabinet,” she told theSun.
Syaza said DAP’s continued presence in the Cabinet allows it to retain its influence over government decision-making.
She added that Loke’s resignation, however, could also allow the party to distance itself from future unpopular Cabinet decisions.
“What is good is that DAP can say they are not responsible for any more future unpopular decisions.”
“What’s bad is the party would seem to have given up and have no executive decision-making powers, and the Unity government would have no more ‘defence’ against Umno.
“If it’s just Loke resigning, it doesn’t make DAP seen to be the one threatening the Unity government. If all leave, yes. If one minister leaves, the government is still very much stable.”
Syaza suggested DAP maintain the status quo to avoid being accused of being the destabilising factor or not respecting the King’s decision.
Loke offered to resign as Transport minister on Saturday after a three-hour DAP Central Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the party’s response to Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s conditional pardon.
Taylor’s University adjunct professor and political analyst Dr Ong Kian Ming said Loke’s offer to resign is not a serious response to what DAP had described as its “red line” over the 1MDB issue.
“Loke’s offer to resign as the one and only response to Najib’s house arrest is not a serious response and will be seen in a negative light among most PH and DAP supporters.”
Ong said DAP supporters would prefer collective action from the party as a “show of the party’s position” as opposed to Loke offering to resign individually.
He also expects Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to reject Loke’s resignation.
Ong also said Loke’s resignation would not affect the Unity government nor benefit DAP in any way.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia information chief and former DAP veteran Ronnie Liu said Loke’s decision had taken many by surprise.
He shares Ong’s prognosis of the situation and also expects the resignation to be rejected by Anwar.
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