DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke confirmed his resignation timeline as Transport Minister was agreed with PM Anwar Ibrahim and hinges on Najib Razak paying his RM50 million fine.
PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says he and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed on the timing of his resignation as Transport Minister, with the decision set to take effect once former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pays the RM50 million fine required for his house arrest.
Loke said his resignation was not merely a political gesture and that he had made his position clear on the matter.
He announced on Sept 19 that he would step down from the Cabinet in protest against the decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Loke subsequently handed his resignation letter to Anwar on Sept 28 after discussing the matter with the Prime Minister.
The resignation was initially met with questions over when it would formally take effect. Loke later clarified that he would remain in office until Najib returns home to begin serving his sentence under house arrest.
Najib was granted a conditional pardon on Sept 18, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.
Loke said his decision reflected the difficulty of balancing political power with principles that DAP believes it must uphold.
