Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke to resign over house arrest granted to ex-PM Najib

DAP secretary general Anthony Loke resigns as Transport Minister after Najib Razak’s release. DAP chief Anthony Loke resigns as Transport Minister in protest against former PM Najib Razak's conditional house arrest despite ongoing party support for Anwar's government. DAP remains in government to maintain stability and avoid giving opponents leverage, while continuing to back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim until the next general election. Najib's early release after a graft conviction has caused political tension, undermining PH's anti-corruption stance and following recent electoral setbacks in Sabah, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan. KUALA LUMPUR - The leader of Malaysia’s largest ruling party will quit Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet in protest at the Sept 18 decision to allow former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remaining two years of a graft conviction on house arrest. But Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary general Anthony Loke said the party will continue to back Anwar, who leads the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, until he calls a general election (GE) due by early 2028. “We feel (the house arrest) is difficult to accept, not just by DAP but many Malaysians. So, after discussing our response for three hours, the decision is that I will tender my resignation as Transport Minister to the Prime Minister,” he told a press conference on Sept 19 after a leadership meeting at the party’s headquarters.

Read the original report: straitstimes.com →

Published

19 Sep 2026

Languages

English