‘A leader must be decisive’: Loke says ‘conscience is clear’ as he reflects on time as minister

Outgoing transport minister Anthony Loke speaks at the Transport Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya on November 11, 2026. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

By Ida Lim

First Published: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026 12:52 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 11 — Anthony Loke today said his conscience is clear as he had done his best during his nearly four years as transport minister, while reaffirming that his resignation took effect yesterday following the court order for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest.

Speaking at the Transport Ministry’s monthly assembly and Deepavali celebrations today, Loke expressed his appreciation to everyone in the ministry and took the opportunity to apologise to anyone who may have been affected by his words or actions, or any mistakes he had made in the past.

“But my conscience is clear that I tried my best to carry out my duties and responsibilities,” he said in his 48-minute speech at the ministry here.

Loke went on to say that it was not a matter of being firm or bold in making decisions, but rather that he believed a key leadership value was “to be decisive”.

Reflecting on his previous and latest tenures as transport minister, from 2018 to 2020 and December 2022 to November 2026 respectively, Loke said this was one of the key lessons he had learnt.

“Not up to six years, but during the time when I held this position as minister, one thing I learnt is that a leader must be decisive,” he said.

Noting that not all decisions would necessarily be “100 per cent correct”, Loke said what secretaries-general and ministry officers worried about most was a minister who failed to make decisions.

He said civil servants were “most worried and disliked it the most when a minister sits on a decision, sits on files, not making decisions”.

“Although the decisions are not perfect, not 100 percent correct, there will be side-effects, but we learn. When there is a decision, if it is not correct, we correct it.

“But most importantly, a leader must be decisive. That is what I tried to do, to be a decisive minister. Maybe if there's mistakes, we correct. In life, not everything is correct, sometimes there's mistakes, but let mistakes be lessons to make us a better organisation,” he said.

“I hope my contribution in the few years of leading this ministry will leave a positive impact for the future of our country and society,” he said, before ending his speech by wishing those celebrating a Happy Deepavali and thanking everyone for their cooperation.

Loke’s speech was greeted with a standing ovation from ministry officials attending the monthly assembly.