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Joseph Sipalan

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has suffered a double whammy as his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition scrambles to placate public outrage over disgraced ex-leader Najib Razak being granted house arrest and the shock resignation of his transport minister in protest against the royal clemency.
But observers do not expect the administration, already reeling from PH defeats in two recent state elections as federal allies turned against the coalition, to implode just yet.
Anwar and PH’s reformist credentials took a hit on Friday after the Pardons Board announced that Najib would be allowed to serve out the remainder of his prison term at home, provided the former prime minister settles his 50 million ringgit (US$12.2 million) fine.
In response, Anthony Loke, secretary general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), announced on Saturday that he would resign from cabinet in a move widely seen as decrying Najib’s house arrest.
Loke is the most senior figure in the largest party within Anwar’s coalition government. He is widely seen as the highest representative of Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese population, which for more than two decades has overwhelmingly voted against Najib and his former ruling Umno party. This opposition was driven by allegations of endemic corruption that culminated in the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.
However, PH’s dalliances with the United Malays National Organisation – with which it formed an alliance to govern the country after a deeply split 2022 general election – led to accusations from supporters that Anwar and his allies had abandoned their commitment to reform to stay in power.

“[Loke’s resignation] is more to placate DAP’s base … so if the question is if it is enough for DAP’s supporters, I don’t think so,” said Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri, an associate professor of political science at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
It is not clear when Loke intends to formally resign from his post as transport minister.
In a statement on Monday, his ministry said he would remain in post to represent Malaysia at the 12th Apec Transportation Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing before heading to Shanghai to join Anwar on an official visit later this week.
Anwar said on Sunday that he had yet to accept Loke’s resignation, adding that he would like to discuss the matter first before making any decision.
“He has informed me, but I haven’t had the chance to discuss anything with him yet,” he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency. “I need to hear his views, but I understand because he is a man of principle.”
Friday’s decree by King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who chairs the Pardons Board and is constitutionally empowered to grant pardons to convicts serving out their sentences, followed PH’s defeat in two recent state elections by federal partner Umno.
The defeats were partly attributed to a resurgent Umno capitalising on a campaign to unify the majority Malay-Muslim vote, as well as PH being rejected by former supporters unhappy with its failure to bring substantive reforms to a government system still seen as compromised by systemic corruption and abuse of power.
In announcing his resignation, Loke said it sent a clear signal that the DAP remained firm in its stance against corruption.
However, the DAP still has 11 other ministers and deputy ministers in government. Analysts say this undermines any grand declarations made by the party and potentially lends weight to long-standing allegations that it seeks to erode the political and cultural dominance of the country’s Malay majority.


“By making a big deal of it by calling a special meeting, [Loke] actually added oil to the fire,” said James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, referring to the DAP’s emergency meeting on Saturday.
“This had nothing to do with the PH government or the DAP; this was the king’s prerogative. If he had said that, most people, especially the Malays, would accept it.”
But Chin said PH would have been in a far worse position if the DAP had decided to resign en bloc from government, emboldening Umno, which demanded snap polls just two weeks ago as it sought to capitalise on the momentum of its political revival.
The numbers remain in Anwar’s favour, for now. Even if the 30 MPs under the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition pull out, the prime minister would still have just enough seats in parliament to remain in power.
But a DAP walkout from Anwar’s cabinet could tip the calculus in Umno’s favour, analysts warned, as it could easily be painted as a dismissal of the country’s royal institution by the Chinese-majority party – and by extension PH.
“If Anwar keeps things [as they are], it should blow over soon. Because truthfully, there is not much that can be done now, except to demand an explanation,” Syaza said.


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DAP secretary general Anthony Loke arrives at his party's headquarters on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Ushar Daniele

Plain-clothes police officers inspect the home of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday ahead of his possible house arrest. Photo: EPA

DAP secretary general Anthony Loke shakes hands with members of his party after announcing his resignation as transport minister on Saturday. Photo: Ushar Daniele

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Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meets India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th Brics Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on September 12. Photo: dpa

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Najib Razak’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ushar Daniele

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Observers say the numbers in cabinet remain in Anwar’s favour for now, but warn that a DAP walkout could embolden rival Umno


Observers say the numbers in cabinet remain in Anwar’s favour for now, but warn that a DAP walkout could embolden rival Umno.


Will Anwar’s coalition in Malaysia implode amid Loke exit, Najib house arrest?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Observers say the numbers in cabinet remain in Anwar’s favour for now, but warn that a DAP walkout could embolden rival Umno

Observers say the numbers in cabinet remain in Anwar’s favour for now, but warn that a DAP walkout could embolden rival Umno