Premature to discuss Loke’s replacement, says DAP leader

DAP has yet to discuss who will take over the transport minister’s position following party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s decision to resign from the Cabinet, vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan said.

Syahredzan said that for now, Loke’s resignation has not taken effect as former prime minister Najib Razak has yet to begin serving the balance of his current jail sentence under house arrest.

“Therefore, it would not be appropriate to discuss who his replacement would be.

“When the time comes, the composition of the Cabinet is the prime minister’s prerogative. The prime minister will, of course, make a decision after consulting the DAP secretary-general,” Harian Metro quoted him as saying.

Yesterday, Loke said his resignation from the Cabinet post would take effect the moment Najib “enters his home”.

Loke, who was appointed transport minister in 2022, tendered his resignation in September, after Najib was granted a conditional pardon.

However, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged him to continue his duties until Najib was released.

Umno said yesterday it had settled the RM50 million fine, which is one of the conditions attached to the conditional pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, following a crowdfunding initiative.

Najib was jailed in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

In January 2024, then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah halved his prison sentence and reduced his fine to RM50 million as part of a royal pardon.

Two months ago, Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, provided he paid the fine and complied with all other stipulated conditions.

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