Malaysia’s transport minister Anthony Loke quits after court allows jailed ex-PM Najib to serve house arrest

Anthony Loke resigned as Malaysia’s transport minister on 10 November 2026, after the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the rest of his corruption sentence under house arrest.

Loke, who leads the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a partner in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition, said his resignation took effect immediately.

He said the move was in line with the position he announced on 6 November 2026, when he pledged to step down once Najib began his house arrest.

“This decision upholds the principles and stance that I have previously explained,” Loke said in a statement issued in Malay.

Resignation first tendered in September over conditional royal pardon

Loke first announced his resignation in September 2026, in protest at a conditional royal pardon granted to Najib.

On 18 September 2026, Sultan Ibrahim, Malaysia’s King, granted the pardon. It allows Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home until 23 August 2028.

Loke later said Anwar had asked him to remain in the post temporarily. He agreed to stay on as transport minister until Najib’s house arrest began.

He had previously described the resignation as a party decision, intended to convey the DAP’s disagreement with the pardon.

At the time, Loke said house arrest for Najib was difficult to accept, not only for the DAP but for many Malaysians.

DAP to stay in government and back Anwar until the next general election

Despite the protest, Loke said in September that the DAP would not leave the government.

The DAP sits in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition alongside Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Loke said the party would continue to support Anwar until he calls a general election, due by early 2028.

In his resignation statement, Loke thanked Anwar “for the trust and mandate given to me to serve in his Cabinet since December 2022”.

He also thanked the ministry’s senior management and all its staff for their commitment and cooperation during his time in office.

“I will give my full cooperation to ensure that the handover of duties proceeds smoothly and that all of the ministry’s responsibilities and initiatives continue to be carried out in the interest of the people,” he said.

Najib’s sentence in the SRC International case and how it was reduced

Najib, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was sentenced in July 2020 to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.

He was convicted on seven corruption charges in the SRC International case, which involved a former unit of the state investment fund 1MDB.

In early 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved his prison term to six years.

The conditional pardon in September then allowed him to serve the remaining period under house arrest. The High Court’s decision on 10 November 2026 cleared the way for that arrangement to begin.

Loke’s record as transport minister: Singapore rail link and reforms

Loke served as transport minister for 47 months, from December 2022. His tenure centred on modernising public transport, improving regulatory efficiency and strengthening regional connectivity.

One of his most significant projects was the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, a cross-border rail line connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore.

During his tenure, the two countries strengthened coordination on construction, immigration arrangements, safety approvals and operational planning.

Both governments subsequently agreed to target February 2027 for passenger services, following additional testing and regulatory requirements.

Loke also advanced digitalisation, introducing digital road tax and driving licences through the MyJPJ mobile application. His ministry reformed vehicle inspection services and electric vehicle road taxation.

On regional links, the ministry explored a private-sector-led funding model to revive the proposed Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR). The project had not secured a confirmed revival by the time he left office.

Rail measures included the MyKomuter50 pass, which offers unlimited 30-day travel on KTM Komuter commuter trains for RM50.

Plans for additional trains aim to increase service frequency and cut waiting times, particularly for daily commuters in northern Malaysia.