SUCH likelihood is on the cards as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has last night (Nov 12) sprang a surprise by confirming that he has yet to receive the resignation letter of Anthony Loke Siew Fook as transport minister.
This is inevitably a rude surprise to UMNO loyalists given the DAP secretary-general made headlines on Monday (Nov 9) that his resignation would take effect immediately following the Kuala Lumpur High Court having granted incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak the privilege of house arrest.
“I haven’t received Anthony Loke’s resignation letter,” he revealed to the roar of Pakatan Harapan (PH) backers during the coalition’s grand finale rally in conjunction with the Melaka state election tomorrow (Nov 14).
“If he wants to take a short break, that’s fine. But if he wants to resign, we need to discuss the matter again.”
This pleasant shocker to DAP loyalists would probably evoke the memory of Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh having rejected the resignation of rightist UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh as the state EXCO for Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security on April 8.
In January, Akmal who is also the Merlimau state assemblyman and Jasin UMNO Division chief announced his decision to step down from the state cabinet post he has held since April 2023.
The self-proclaimed staunch defender of race and religion made the announcement before 2,500 delegates during his keynote address at the 2025 UMNO Youth General Assembly at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur.
His decision at the time was widely viewed as a response to pressure from several DAP leaders who had challenged him to resign following his outspoken calls for UMNO to re-evaluate its position within the Madani government.
A PH charade par excellence?
Based on the manner PMX who is also the PH chairman showered praises on Loke while defending his performance as transport minister, the prevailing sentiment is one of hesitation to see the Seremban MP vacating the Madani Cabinet.
In outlining that Loke had introduced various proposals, projects and programmes to improve public transport services and make daily travel easier for Malaysians, including taxi drivers, PMX who is also the PKR president added:
When I praise him, those from PAS and UMNO question why Anwar is praising DAP or the Chinese.
But when we appoint a minister, what matters is whether that minister is trustworthy, clean and hardworking.
Yet, people like him are being told to resign while those who are problematic are being asked to stay. The world has turned upside down.
As the UMNO fraction is accusing PMX of “displaying yet another sandiwara (theatrics)” while fence-sitters are watching the drama unfolding with “Coke and popcorn” by their side, one remote control plane enthusiast struck a chord in his reaction to the Berita Harian Facebook post on the latest development,
Tony Loke’s resignation was a provocation to test Anwar if he would listen to DAP for any next decision.
Now Anwar is feeling the heat of the provocation and thinks that’s a big threat from the “DAP” fraternity.
It seems that Anwar is having a tough time letting go of Tony Loke because Anwar knows Tony Loke will incite all DAP members not to follow him (even to the extent of leaving the Madani government).
So this has become a “death blow” to Anwar’s credibility as PM. This is just a small drama by Tony Loke yet Anwar immediately got frightened, afraid of falling from his seat as PM.
Talking about political theatrics, this claim by political observer Phoenix Shen that “Anthony Loke’s resignation is not about principle but a case of pure political theatre” to redeem decline in the trust of party backers does merit attention.
Stop pretending Anthony Loke’s resignation is some noble stand of integrity. It’s not. It’s a carefully staged act of damage control, nothing more.
If resigning over Najib’s house arrest is truly about principle, then answer this honestly: what does that make Anwar Ibrahim and every other DAP minister and MP who chose to stay?
Are they suddenly men and women without principle?
Former DAP leader Marina Ibrahim already exposed the script months ago.
She revealed that a senior DAP figure had privately admitted there was “nothing wrong” with Najib receiving a pardon and house arrest, and that some leaders were prepared to resign if the timing became inconvenient – while still continuing to support the government.
That’s not principle. That’s political management. Loke simply played the role that had already been written. – Nov 13, 2026
Images credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
