Anwar says he has yet to accept Loke’s resignation

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he wants to hold further discussions with Loke Siew Fook over the DAP secretary-general’s resignation as transport minister.

Anwar said he had yet to decide whether to accept Loke’s resignation letter, as he wanted to discuss the matter with the latter first.

“Yes, Loke did write to me tendering his immediate resignation, but as prime minister, I have not accepted it. We need to discuss his resignation again,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying in Bukit Baru, Melaka.

Anwar said Loke was trustworthy, had a good track record in government and had worked hard to introduce various initiatives at the transport ministry that benefitted the public.

“He is among the hardest-working ministers and is well regarded by ministry officials.

“That is why I said it is strange that people want a good minister like him to step down while asking those who perform poorly to stay on. What kind of upside-down world is this?”

On Tuesday, Loke said he had stepped down as transport minister effective immediately, following the High Court order allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his SRC International prison sentence under house arrest.

Loke had previously announced his resignation in September, but said it would only take effect once Najib began serving his SRC jail term under house arrest.