Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed receipt of Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s resignation letter, which followed the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling to allow former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Anwar has yet to accept the resignation, suggesting the move remains subject to negotiation.
“I have not accepted the resignation. I have received the letter, and he said it was effective immediately, but I will, of course, take time to consider the matter carefully,” Anwar told reporters on Friday.
Loke first signaled his intention to step down in September 2026, following the DAP’s disagreement with the conditional royal pardon granted to Najib. He had agreed to remain in his cabinet post temporarily at the Prime Minister’s request, setting his departure date to coincide with the moment the former leader transitioned to home confinement. That transition occurred on the night of November 11.
Loke Maintains Support for Anwar Despite Resignation
On Nov. 10, the DAP chief said that stepping down aligns with his stance announced on Nov. 6, emphasizing that the decision upholds principles previously explained regarding his opposition to the conditional royal pardon. Despite the resignation, Loke insisted during a rally in Ayer Keroh that he and the DAP remain supportive of Anwar, noting that the party’s 40 parliamentary members remain firmly behind the Prime Minister.
| Key Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Initial pardon consideration | 2023 |
| DAP central executive decision to resign | Sept 19, 2026 |
| Najib Razak moved to house arrest | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Scheduled end of house arrest (SRC case) | Aug 23, 2028 |
| Deadline for 16th General Election | Feb 2028 |
As the nation approaches the 16th General Election, which must be held by February 2028, the optics of Najib’s house arrest have become a flashpoint for internal dissent. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that the appointment of cabinet replacements remains the Prime Minister’s prerogative, stating that he would leave any decision regarding the vacant seat to Anwar.
Anwar has faced intense scrutiny regarding his personal role in the pardon process. “I was the one who ensured that Najib's pardon application was put on the agenda. Why did I do it? Because I felt it deserved to be considered,” Anwar said during a rally, clarifying that raising the matter for consideration in 2023 and 2024 was a constitutional duty, not an endorsement of the outcome.
Why did I do it? Because I felt it deserved to be considered,” Anwar said.
“I said perhaps our society is not ready. Because we are fighting a war against corruption. We do not want to send the wrong message,” Anwar explained.
“In fact, I said perhaps our society is not ready. Because we are fighting a war against corruption. We do not want to send the wrong message,” Anwar explained, emphasizing that the decision to grant house arrest rested with the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, and that the government's role was to comply with the decree.
“But His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, out of His Majesty’s compassion and after considering all the factors, decreed, ‘Grant house arrest.’ We comply. That is the Agong’s power, not the prime minister’s power,” said Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Despite the cabinet vacancy, Loke has maintained that the DAP’s 40 parliamentary members remain committed to the government. The political pressure is expected to continue as opposition coalitions signal they will use the government’s handling of the Najib house arrest case to challenge Anwar’s anti-corruption platform.
With the government’s cabinet meetings proceeding as usual, all eyes are on whether Anwar will formally accept the resignation or if the matter will be renegotiated.
