IT has been said that in Malaysian politics, one day can be like an eternity, what more 10. And in 10 days, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook was transformed from hero to zero.
On Sept 19, after a pow-wow with top guns in DAP, of which he is the secretary-general, Loke offered to resign as Minister to take the fall for the party over disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak being granted conditional house arrest.
There were scepticisms even back then whether he would actually quit his lofty job, especially since he scooted off to China right after the announcement on official business but promised to sort out the resignation upon his return a few days later.
Ten days later, on Sept 29 (yesterday), and true to predictions by sceptics, Loke who recently lost the Chennah State seat during the Negeri Sembilan election made an about-turn.
He announced that while his intention to resign stayed, it would only take effect upon Bossku actually serving the remainder of his sentence in the latter’s posh No 11 bungalow in Langgak Duta.
His announcement only exposed Loke for the reality many had suspected: he never really wanted to quit Cabinet to begin with and his earlier offer was nothing more than theatrics that he thought he could fool voters with.
By right, regardless of whether Bossku leaves the spartan confines of Kajang prison for his mansion which comes with running hot showers and mattresses fit for five-star hotels, the Seremban MP – as a matter of principle – should take the fall.
Self-pride, honour vanished
Whether Bossku remained in Kajang or not was immaterial as DAP had failed to stop efforts for the former 10-term Pekan MP to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
This is the same Bossku which Loke and his ilk had demonised prior to 2018 for corruption and abuse of power which eventually helped sweep the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to power.
The latest turn of event was somewhat of a pity as Loke was pedastalised for his selflessness when he offered to quit on Sept 19 although in all honesty, the entire DAP line-up in Cabinet ought to resign.
By effectively rescinding his offer, Loke has behaved in exactly the same way as his political opponents that he had once derided: power crazy and untrustworthy.
With no clear date yet on Bossku starting his house arrest, Loke just might be able to complete his ministerial tenure considering elections could be held by 1H 2027.
Moreover, technically Bossku would still need to serve his 15-year jail sentence for the 1MDB conviction after his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction which he was granted conditional pardon for although he’s in the midst of applying for a stay for the former pending an appeal.
This process could take months or longer especially if lawyers quibble over technicalities.
By which time, it could be time for the 16th General Election (GE16) – and going by the growing distrust voters have with Loke and DAP in recent times, he would not be able to resign as a Minister by then given there’s a high chance he’d be sitting on the Opposition bench. – Sept 30, 2026
