Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will meet DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke to hear his views before deciding whether to accept his offer to resign as Transport Minister following the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Anwar said Loke had personally informed him of his decision, adding that he wanted to hear the minister’s views before making a decision.
“He has informed me, but I haven’t had the chance to discuss anything with him yet. I need to hear his views,” Anwar told reporters after the Perintis Reformis Reunion Hi-Tea at the Selangor International Trade Centre here today.
He said he understood Loke’s position, noting that the DAP leader had consistently opposed measures that could create an impression of leniency towards corruption.
Loke offered to resign yesterday following a DAP Central Executive Committee meeting on the conditional pardon granted to Najib. He is expected to submit his formal resignation letter to Anwar soon.
Anwar said the meeting with Loke would likely take place after both returned from separate visits to Shanghai, China.
Asked whether Loke’s resignation offer could trigger a Cabinet reshuffle, Anwar replied: “Let’s take things one step at a time.”
The King, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine. The decision was made at the 64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
