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Ushar Daniele

Joseph Sipalan

A senior ally of Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim announced his resignation from cabinet on Saturday – a day after confidence in the prime minister’s administration took a severe hit when disgraced former leader Najib Razak was allowed to serve out his jail term under house arrest.
Anthony Loke, the secretary general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), said that the party could not accept the decision to allow Najib to complete his sentence in the comfort of his own home.
The former prime minister is in jail for siphoning 42 million ringgit (US$10.3 million) from a unit of troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). His term ends on August 23, 2028.
“We have come to a decision that I resign as the minister of transport to the prime minister and this only involves me as minister,” Loke told a packed media conference after chairing a meeting of his party’s top leadership.
King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar on Friday granted Najib a “conditional pardon”, in which the former leader is required to settle his 50 million ringgit fine before he can be transferred to his home to complete his sentence.
The house arrest decision triggered widespread public anger against Anwar’s ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition – of which the DAP is a member – for giving up its reform promises to team up with Najib’s former ruling Umno party to stay in power.

In response to the public fallout, PH’s presidential council, which includes Anwar, Loke and National Trust Party President Mohamad Sabu, said it remained firm on its position that “no one is above the law” and that anyone found guilty of a crime should carry out their sentence as required by the law.
“The presidential council will continue efforts to eradicate corruption, uphold the reform agenda and clean the country from elements of graft and misconduct,” the council said in a statement late on Friday.
In announcing his resignation, Loke said the party respected the decision made by the king, but stressed that it is something that the DAP and “many others” could not abide.
The party’s central leadership, however, agreed that it would be sufficient for him as the party’s most senior leader to resign from government as a sign of the DAP’s seriousness on the matter, he added.
The DAP accounts for the largest number of parliamentary seats in government and currently holds 12 cabinet and assistant minister positions.
“If we all resign today the government will topple. This is a responsible move and we do not want any decision made by us to cause political instability,” Loke said.
Coalition in trouble
Anwar’s administration is facing its worst bout of internal strife after his PH coalition suffered punishing defeats at the hands of federal partner Umno in two state elections since July.
Umno has since demanded a snap general election with more than a year before the current term expires. Nearly a decade after being voted out from Putrajaya over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal and allegations of widespread corruption under Najib’s watch, the party is hoping to translate its political resurgence into a return to power.
DAP women’s wing chief Teo Nie Ching said Loke’s decision to step down as transport minister “speaks volumes about his leadership” and reflected the party’s long-standing position against corruption.
“In the interest of transparency and public accountability, DAP Wanita urges the government to disclose the official minutes of the Pardons Board meeting,” Teo said, referring to the board that advises the king on applications for clemency.
“The public deserves complete clarity on the considerations and processes that led to this decision.”
The government has yet to receive any official instructions from the board about Najib’s house arrest, which Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said would be needed to guide its next steps on the matter.
“Based on that letter, we will determine whether it is limited to the board’s decision or whether the board also grants further authority to the prisons department,” Saifuddin told reporters on Saturday.

Moments after the Pardons Board announced the king’s decision, Umno launched of a fundraiser to pay off Najib’s 50 million ringgit fine.
In a social media post on Saturday morning, Umno secretary general Ashraf Wajdi Dusuki said they had already collected more than 1 million ringgit.
The public donation campaign could easily pivot into a show of support for Umno, which is keen to maintain its political momentum heading into the general election – due no later than early 2028 – according to Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research.
“Umno could use participation in the drive to demonstrate that support for Najib remained strong both within the party grass roots and beyond,” Azmi said.
Civil society groups, however, warned that concessions for Najib, who is seeking to overturn a separate conviction also linked to 1MDB, could lead to the collapse of public institutions.
The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism said allowing Najib’s house arrest carried grave implications for how justice was perceived and carried out in the country.
“If this is how corrupt leaders can expect to be treated, what hope do we have of ever eliminating corruption in Malaysia?” the group said in a statement.


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DAP secretary general Anthony Loke arrives at his party's headquarters on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Ushar Daniele

Plain-clothes police officers inspect the home of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday ahead of his possible house arrest. Photo: EPA

DAP secretary general Anthony Loke shakes hands with members of his party after announcing his resignation as transport minister on Saturday. Photo: Ushar Daniele

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Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex on December 22, 2025. Photo: Reuters 

Najib Razak’s supporters gather outside his home in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday. Photo: Ushar Daniele

Najib Razak’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ushar Daniele

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The former prime minister’s conditional pardon is a severe blow to Anwar’s ruling coalition, which is facing its worst internal strife


The former prime minister’s conditional pardon is a severe blow to Anwar’s ruling coalition, which is facing its worst internal strife.


Malaysia’s Loke resigns as transport minister following Najib’s house arrest approval

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The former prime minister’s conditional pardon is a severe blow to Anwar’s ruling coalition, which is facing its worst internal strife

The former prime minister’s conditional pardon is a severe blow to Anwar’s ruling coalition, which is facing its worst internal strife