DAP’s vocal critic Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy has led the chorus to ridicule the purported resignation of the party’s secretary-general Anthony Loke from his Transport Minister portfolio following fallout from the granting of house arrest to incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Not viewing the act by the Seremban MP as honourable, the former DAP stalwart questioned why other DAP Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers or state EXCO members did not follow suit to reflect a collective decision of resigning en masse.
“What about the national vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming who was vociferous in arguing against the grant of a pardon for Najib?” jibed the once three-term Perai state assemblyman in Facebook post.
What about (Federal Territories Minister) Hannah Yeoh who is a member of the FT Pardons Board? Why has she not resigned? Apparently, her input in the Pardons Board was based on her conscience and the interests of the nation.
It was on the advice of the Pardons Board that the King granted house arrest and conditional payment of RM50 mil for Najib.
The rationale behind the one-man resignation taken at the emergency DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting that lasted three hours yesterday (Sept 19) was “to ensure political stability and deny our adversaries what they desire”, according to the party’s national vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan.
“Comrade Anthony Loke will step down once certain ministerial matters have been concluded,” assured the Bangi MP on his FB page.
“This decision was not easily reached; many were prepared to resign. However, the CEC has carefully weighed every implication and this is the best course of action.
James Chin: Just a DAP wayang
Delving further, Ramasamy who left DAP during run-up to the July 2023 four state elections to found the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) went on to take a pot shot at DAP that despite a parliamentary strength of 40 MPs, the party “simply lacked the basic guts and principle to withdraw from the Madani government”.
Loke wants to be a hero by resigning but such a one-person resignation is just not enough to establish the principled stand of the party.
It’s just that the other leaders, Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, state EXCO members and others are more interested in safeguarding their limited power, positions and perks.
I urge other DAP leaders to tender their resignations without fail. Don’t blow the golden opportunity to redeem the dignity and sanctity of DAP.
Elsewhere, avid political commentator Prof James Chin insinuated Loke’s resignation move as a charade a.k.a. wayang similar to that played out by rightist UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who wanted to quit his Melaka state EXCO post only for the Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to reject his resignation letter.
“Will Anwar (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) accept this (Loke’s) resignation?” chided the inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania in a FB post.
Another mistake by Loke and DAP. There is no need to be so dramatic. This is not a stage. You’re part of the Madani government, so behave like one.
All these dramas will just reinforce the views that DAP is really powerless in PH (Pakatan Harapan).
Your advisors are really hopeless. If these are the same people telling you what to do in GE16 (16th General Election), then you will do badly. I can do a much better job than these stupid advisors.
Earlier, Chin who is also the senior research associate at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies (TCLI) has ‘betted’ that “DAP will not leave the cabinet nor leave PH”.
No need to get excited. This is the decision of the Pardons Board under the Agong and therefore not a political decision.
So DAP (or anyone else) can’t do anything. DAP shouldn’t be holding an emergency meeting, hence making themselves look bad.
It was a mistake on the part of Loke to call for this (CEC) meeting. All it does is to remind DAP supporters that DAP is powerless in the PH government. – Sept 20, 2026
