Malaysian Transport Minister faces breathing difficulty during parliamentary session

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: During the Malaysian Parliamentary session on 10 July, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook appeared to struggle to breathe, causing a brief disturbance during his ministry’s question time.

The incident occurred on 10 July morning as Minister Loke prepared to respond to a query from Wong Chen, Member of Parliament for Subang about regulations allowing drivers with disabilities to work as e-hailing drivers.

Upon standing to answer, Loke seemed out of breath and needed some time to compose himself.

Loke was seen patting his chest several times before signalling his deputy, Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, to proceed with the session.

Taking over, Habibollah advised Loke to sit down and calm himself.

“YB (Loke), calm yourself down, and I will answer this first,” Habibollah said.

MP Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa also requested that Loke have a health checkup at the hospital. “YB (Loke), calm down first. ”

“You need to get yourself checked; it’s dangerous (for your health),” he urged.

Loke later resumed answering supplementary questions posed by other MPs.

According to a recent study by Remote, a global human resource services company, Malaysia ranks second worst globally in terms of work-life balance among 60 countries.

Malaysians were found to work excessively, with little time for rest and recovery from long days and workplace stress.

Mr Loke is renowned for his proactive approach to enhancing public transportation in the country.

In 2023, a joint survey revealed that Anthony Loke is the most popular minister in Malaysia’s Unity government Cabinet, garnering 49 per cent of the vote, ahead of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.