ONE wonders if the official resignation of Anthony Liew Siew Fook as Transport Minister effective yesterday (Nov 10) in the name of upholding DAP’s firm anti-kleptocracy principles would serve as the ultimate gamble to redeem the party’s lost pride within the Madani government machinery.
The DAP secretary-general is technically the fourth minister to resign from the Madani Cabinet though he is widely recognised as the first to resign specifically as a matter of honour and protest against the unimaginable decision of conferring incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak the privilege of house arrest.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court order which makes Bossku the first prisoner in Malaysia to serve his sentence under house arrest covers the SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction which runs until Aug 23, 2028 though Bossku still faces a separate 15-year prison sentence from another 1MDB-linked case which is now under appeal.
Loke now joins the ranks of BERSAMA co-leaders Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who also stepped down as economy minister and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister respectively in May 2025 out of political principle.
This follows their ousting as deputy president and vice-president in PKR’s internal party election.
Subsequently, UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick quit as the entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister in November 2025 in a protest stemming from his disagreement with the Federal government’s handling of Sabah’s constitutional claim to 40% of net federal revenue derived from the state.
Insofar as Loke is concerned, his decision to honour his words has won immense public praises and tributes as gauged from his Facebook post featuring a media statement whereby he reiterated his stance to step down as Bossku’s house arrest became imminent.
Editor’s Note: The Star reported that Bossku arrived at his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta (Taman Duta), Kuala Lumpur at approximately 9.27pm last night (Nov 10).
“Steady… lagi ada telor drpd Akmal (literally “Steady, have more balls than Akmal”),” mocked one Muhammad Azimuddin in the FB post which has garnered 33.9K likes, 6.6K comments and 1.2K shares at the time of writing.
“You’ll never walk alone …” asserted one Nelson Poon echoing Liverpool FC’s slogan while one Ram Kumar added, “He walk the talk. Unlike Hello Kitty (a meme referring to UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh)”.
Even fellow comrade Hannah Yeoh who sat in the Federal Territory’s Pardons Board in her capacity as the FT Minister was ‘gentleman’ enough to admit that “I should be the one stepping down today”.
“But my secretary-general wanted us to fulfill all our promises to the rakyat and complete the unfinished business. In the end, he himself paid the price,” penned the National DAP’s deputy sec-gen and Segambut MP on her FB page.
It is left to be seen if Loke’s departure from the Madani Cabinet is akin to the adage that a person tends to be sorely missed when he is no longer around and if this can translate into DAP regaining the slipping trust of especially disgruntled supporters or even winning the hearts of fence-sitters.
Renowned Malaysian media pioneer Datuk Jake Abdullah summed up best that whether one is a fan of the Seremban MP or otherwise, “the man kept his word”.
“And in politics where promises are sometimes easier to make than to keep, that deserves some recognition,” the now EQ and leadership coach penned on Threads.
Following the court’s decision allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his SRC sentence under house arrest, Loke has resigned as Transport Minister, as he previously said he would.
You may agree or disagree with his position but he made his stand clear and followed through.
I’ve always believed that leadership is about more than making the right speeches. It’s about having the courage to stand by your convictions even when the decision isn’t easy.
Whatever your politics, consistency and accountability matter. Respect where it’s due. – Focus Malaysia
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