DAP faces tough balancing act after Loke quits over Najib house arrest [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Anthony Loke's decision to step down from the cabinet over Datuk Seri Najib Razak's conditional pardon may signal principle to DAP supporters, but analysts say its political impact remains uncertain.

Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub described Loke's move as a balance between taking a principled stand and avoiding political instability.

He said DAP appeared to be pursuing two objectives — showing its grassroots that it remained firm on the issue while avoiding action that could destabilise the government.

"This does not mean the relationship between DAP and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has fractured entirely.

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"But the pardon has raised the political cost of DAP's decision at its national congress in August to remain in government," he told the New Straits Times.

Tawfik said the house arrest decision would now test how convincingly DAP could defend that position to its grassroots.

International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor Dr Lau Zhe Wei, however, questioned why Loke should be the only DAP minister to resign.

"Even if we talk about resigning, it should not be Anthony Loke alone. In fact, I suggested that the whole of DAP should resign," he told NST.

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Lau said the issue should be viewed through voter sentiment rather than technical distinctions between house arrest and release.

"For many DAP supporters, it does not matter technically whether he has been released or is still serving his sentence.

"The feeling is — yes, he has been freed."

He said a full DAP cabinet resignation would not necessarily mean withdrawing parliamentary support for Anwar or destabilising the government.

However, Lau said any move would have to be carefully framed to avoid being interpreted as defiance of the king.

He said DAP could instead direct political pressure towards Umno by presenting its departure as an inability to continue serving alongside the party.

Loke, who is DAP secretary-general, announced his intention to resign as transport minister on Saturday following the Federal Territories Pardons Board's decision to allow Najib to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine and other conditions.

Loke had said DAP respected the royal prerogative exercised by the king, but acknowledged that the decision remained difficult for the party and the public to accept given the scale of the 1MDB scandal.

Najib is serving his sentence for seven charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving more than RM42 million belonging to SRC International.

The High Court convicted him in July 2020 and sentenced him to 12 years' imprisonment and a RM210 million fine. The conviction was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.

Najib began serving his sentence on Aug 23, 2022.

On Jan 29, 2024, the Pardons Board halved his sentence and reduced the fine to RM50 million.