SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to meet Anthony Loke after he returns from Shanghai to discuss the Transport Minister's offer to resign from the Cabinet.
The Prime Minister said Loke had informed him of the matter, but they have yet to discuss it in detail.
“I understand his position. He is a man of principle and has been consistent from the start, particularly on matters that could give the impression that the government is weak or compromising in its fight against corruption,” he told reporters after attending a reunion hi-tea gathering for pioneers of the Reformasi movement here yesterday.
Loke, who is DAP secretary-general, offered to resign as minister on Saturday following his party’s central executive committee meeting.
His decision came after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Asked when his meeting with Loke would take place, Anwar said it was likely to be held after he and Loke returned from their respective trips to Shanghai.
He added that Loke had informed him that he would bring a letter to discuss the matter.
“I told him that we could meet when the time is right,” he said.
Anwar said he would be in Shanghai on Tuesday (tomorrow) to meet Premier Li Qiang, while Loke is expected to leave for Shanghai today.
Asked whether Loke’s resignation offer could lead to a Cabinet reshuffle, Anwar replied: “Let us take it one step at a time.”
On a separate matter, Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, said Pakatan election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari would handle the possible political cooperation between Pakatan and Bersatu.
He was asked to comment on Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who said the party was open to discussions on a possible new political cooperation, including with Pakatan.
Meanwhile, at an event in Kota Tinggi, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Loke’s decision to offer his resignation as a Cabinet minister is a personal choice.
He said the DAP secretary-general’s decision to relinquish his post as Transport Minister was entirely up to him.
“From Umno’s perspective, that is his matter. Whether he wants to resign or not, that is his matter,” he told reporters.
