KOTA TINGGI: Anthony Loke’s decision to offer his resignation as Transport Minister following the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is entirely his own matter, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president added it was up to Loke to decide whether he wanted to resign from the Cabinet following the DAP’s decision on the issue.
“From Umno’s perspective, that is his matter. Whether he wants to resign or not, that is his matter,” he said in a press conference after attending a Maulidur Rasul celebration held at Felda Air Tawar 2 here on Sunday (Sept 20).
Mohamed Khaled, who is also the Defence Minister, was responding to questions on Loke’s decision to offer his resignation following the DAP Central Executive Committee meeting on Saturday.
Loke said he had proposed to submit his resignation as Transport Minister to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the party’s response to the decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
However, Loke said other DAP ministers would remain in the Cabinet to maintain political stability.
Mohamed Khaled said developments involving an individual minister’s resignation should not be confused with the decision involving Najib.
He reiterated that the decision to grant Najib a conditional pardon and allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest was within the constitutional prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Mohamed Khaled said Umno welcomed the decision and would respect the authority exercised by His Majesty.
Loke has said DAP respected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s authority to grant pardons, while maintaining that his decision to offer his resignation represented the party’s response to the Najib issue.
