Anthony Loke will complete his China trip before returning to Malaysia to discuss his resignation as Transport Minister with Anwar Ibrahim
PETALING JAYA: : Transport Minister Anthony Loke will proceed with his scheduled official visit to China before returning to Malaysia to attend to matters related to his resignation as Transport Minister.
The Transport Ministry (MOT) said Loke would represent Malaysia at the 12th APEC Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing today and tomorrow before travelling to Shanghai to join Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s delegation.
“After completing the official programme in Beijing, the minister is scheduled to travel to Shanghai to join the Prime Minister’s delegation before returning to Malaysia to attend to matters related to his resignation as Transport Minister,” it said in a statement today.
The ministry said Loke’s programme in Beijing included bilateral meetings and the signing of two memoranda of understanding covering transport cooperation between Malaysia and China, and aviation safety cooperation.
The ministry added that the aviation safety agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) would cover areas including airworthiness, aviation organisation certification, personnel licensing, operational oversight and mutual recognition of compliance findings and certificates.
MOT said it would continue carrying out its duties and responsibilities as usual in a professional and orderly manner.
Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, offered to resign as Transport Minister following the decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.
Loke said the decision followed an emergency DAP Central Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, during which the party discussed its response to the conditional pardon. He said his resignation would only involve his Cabinet position, while other DAP ministers and deputy ministers would remain in the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Loke had informed him of his intention to resign, but that the two had yet to discuss the matter.
Anwar said he would meet Loke to hear his views before deciding whether to accept the resignation.
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