Malaysia’s political crisis over former prime minister Najib Razak’s house-arrest arrangement has triggered a major Cabinet departure, with Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Anthony Loke officially resigning as transport minister with immediate effect.

Loke announced his resignation on November 10, 2026, following a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest. The decision activated the condition Loke had previously set when he first offered to leave the Cabinet in September.

The resignation marks a significant moment for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition, which has had to manage disagreements over Najib’s conditional royal pardon while trying to preserve political stability.

Loke said his decision was consistent with the principles and position he had publicly explained earlier. He thanked Anwar for the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet since December 2022 and expressed appreciation to Transport Ministry officials and employees.

He also promised to cooperate in ensuring a smooth handover, stressing that the ministry’s programmes and responsibilities should continue without interruption. AsiaOne+3

Anthony Loke Resigns as Malaysia’s Transport Minister After Najib Razak Wins House Arrest Ruling, Triggering New Political Uncertainty

Malaysia’s political controversy surrounding former prime minister Najib Razak has claimed a major Cabinet position, with Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Anthony Loke officially resigning as transport minister after a court cleared the way for Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Loke announced on November 10, 2026, that his resignation would take effect immediately, following a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision allowing Najib to serve the remaining portion of his sentence in the SRC International corruption case at his private residence.

The decision fulfilled the condition Loke had repeatedly attached to his planned departure: he would leave the Cabinet once Najib actually began serving his sentence at home.

The resignation is a significant development for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, which has been navigating disagreements over Najib’s conditional royal pardon while trying to maintain stability among its coalition partners.

Loke said his decision was consistent with the position and principles he had previously explained. He thanked Anwar for the opportunity to serve in the Cabinet since December 2022 and expressed appreciation to the Transport Ministry’s management and staff.

He also pledged to cooperate with the transition process to ensure that the ministry’s programmes and public services continue without interruption.

The announcement was confirmed by Bernama, Malay Mail, The Star and Channel NewsAsia. <Cite refs={[“turn365337search0″,”turn365337search1″,”turn365337search2″,”turn365337search3″,”turn365337search4”]} />

Why Anthony Loke Finally Resigned

Loke’s departure was not an unexpected political decision. He first offered to resign in September after Malaysia’s Pardons Board granted Najib a conditional royal pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest.

At the time, Loke said the decision reflected DAP’s longstanding position on corruption, accountability and the 1MDB scandal.

However, Prime Minister Anwar asked him to remain in office temporarily to maintain continuity at the Transport Ministry. Loke subsequently clarified that he would continue serving until Najib actually began his house arrest.

That condition became decisive on November 10.

Loke said his resignation was now effective immediately after the High Court issued a new order allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at his residence.

The development marks the conclusion of a political arrangement that had kept Loke in the Cabinet for several weeks after his initial resignation offer.

Importantly, Loke’s departure does not mean DAP has withdrawn from Anwar’s government. The party has maintained that its other ministers would remain in the Cabinet, reflecting its decision to distinguish Loke’s individual ministerial resignation from a wider withdrawal from the governing coalition. <Cite refs={[“turn365337search1″,”turn365337search14″,”turn313482search2”]} />

Najib Razak Gets Court Approval to Serve Sentence Under House Arrest Until August 2028

The legal development behind Loke’s resignation involved a new order issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on November 10.

High Court Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin set aside an earlier order dated November 6 and replaced it with a new order allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest at his Langgak Duta residence.

According to Bernama, the arrangement will continue until August 23, 2028. Najib is then scheduled to return to Kajang Prison on August 24, 2028, to serve the sentence in his separate 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.

The ruling followed several days of legal uncertainty after Najib’s party, UMNO, paid the RM50 million fine required under the conditions of his royal pardon.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers had sought clarification of the earlier court order, raising questions about how the payment and the wording of the discharge order affected the implementation of house arrest.

The November 10 decision provided a revised court order to address that uncertainty.

The Home Ministry subsequently said it was ready to implement the new order, with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stressing that the ministry and Prisons Department would follow valid court orders and applicable legal procedures. <Cite refs={[“turn151820search2″,”turn151820search19″,”turn151820news17″,”turn151820news20”]} />

The RM50 Million Fine and the 1MDB Controversy

Najib’s house-arrest arrangement is connected to his conviction in the SRC International case, involving RM42 million transferred from a former subsidiary of the state investment fund 1MDB.

Najib was imprisoned in August 2022 after Malaysia’s highest court upheld his conviction. His original 12-year prison sentence and RM210 million fine were reduced in January 2024 through a partial royal pardon, cutting the prison term to six years and the fine to RM50 million.

A further conditional pardon announced in September 2026 allowed him to serve the remainder of that sentence under house arrest, provided the required fine was paid.

UMNO subsequently raised funds and settled the RM50 million payment.

However, the house-arrest arrangement does not erase Najib’s conviction or resolve every other legal matter involving him.

Najib also faces a separate 1MDB-related conviction involving approximately RM2.3 billion. He received a 15-year prison sentence in that case, but the conviction remains subject to appeal.

The distinction is crucial: the latest court order concerns the SRC International sentence. It does not mean Najib has been cleared of the separate 1MDB conviction or that all of his legal troubles have ended. <Cite refs={[“turn151820news25″,”turn151820search2″,”turn151820news20″,”turn151820news26”]} />

Anwar Ibrahim Says Cabinet Reshuffle Is Not Yet on the Table

Loke’s resignation has immediately raised questions about who will take over the Transport Ministry and whether the departure will lead to a wider Cabinet reshuffle.

Anwar, however, said on November 10 that it was too early to discuss a Cabinet reshuffle when questioned by reporters about possible changes following Loke’s decision.

The prime minister’s response suggests that the government has not yet publicly committed to a timetable for replacing the outgoing minister.

The Transport Ministry, meanwhile, is expected to continue implementing its existing programmes and projects during the transition.

Loke himself had already promised full cooperation to ensure that ministry operations would not be disrupted.

His departure comes at a politically sensitive time because DAP remains an important component of the governing Pakatan Harapan coalition, which also includes parties with different political histories and positions on Najib’s case.

The immediate challenge for Anwar is to maintain coalition cooperation while deciding how the Transport Ministry will be led going forward. <Cite refs={[“turn151820news10″,”turn365337search1″,”turn365337search4”]} />

Why the Resignation Matters to DAP and Malaysia’s Unity Government

The controversy highlights the difficult position DAP occupies within Anwar’s governing coalition.

DAP has historically maintained a strong anti-corruption position and has been among the political parties most critical of the 1MDB scandal.

Najib’s conditional pardon therefore created a political dilemma: the party had to respond to a decision it found difficult to accept while remaining part of a government that includes UMNO, the party historically associated with Najib.

Loke’s resignation was presented as a way to express DAP’s disagreement without pulling the entire party out of the Cabinet.

That distinction matters because a mass withdrawal of DAP ministers could create a much bigger political crisis for Anwar.

The current development does not establish that the unity government is about to collapse. DAP’s other ministers remain in government, and Loke’s departure is limited to his ministerial position.

Nevertheless, the episode exposes continuing tensions within the coalition over accountability, institutional reform and the treatment of high-profile corruption cases.

A September Reuters report had already identified the political pressure surrounding Loke’s resignation offer, describing it as part of wider tensions over corruption and governance within Anwar’s coalition. <Cite refs={[“turn365337news26″,”turn365337search1″,”turn313482search2”]} />

What Happens to Malaysia’s Transport Ministry Now?

Loke’s resignation leaves an important Cabinet position requiring a transition, although the ministry’s daily responsibilities are expected to continue.

The Transport Ministry oversees major national concerns, including public transportation, aviation, maritime operations, road transport regulation and infrastructure coordination.

Any leadership change will therefore attract attention from commuters, transport operators, businesses and investors.

Loke had previously highlighted several major transport initiatives, including the MyKomuter50 programme, the East Coast Rail Link and the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System.

His departure does not automatically stop these projects. He specifically pledged to cooperate with ministry officials to ensure that ongoing programmes and responsibilities continue.

The next major question is who Anwar will appoint to oversee the ministry and whether the new leadership will maintain the same implementation priorities.

WWC ONE MEDIA Coverage of the Najib–Loke Political Controversy

The latest resignation is the culmination of developments that have been unfolding since September. WWC ONE MEDIA has followed the dispute through several reports:

• Anthony Loke to Stay as Transport Minister Until Najib Begins House Arrest — Explains why Loke initially remained in the Cabinet despite submitting his resignation.
• Anwar to Discuss Anthony Loke’s Resignation as Transport Minister — Covers the prime minister’s earlier response to Loke’s resignation offer.
• Anthony Loke Quits Over Najib’s House Arrest — But DAP’s Next Move Could Change Malaysia’s Political Equation — Examines the political consequences for DAP and the unity government.
• Malaysia’s King Warns Against Defying Najib Razak’s Royal Pardon After RM50 Million Payment — Explains the dispute over implementing the royal pardon and the separate 1MDB sentence.

Together, these developments show how a decision involving one former prime minister has created consequences for the Cabinet, the governing coalition and Malaysia’s political debate over corruption and accountability.

Loke’s Departure May Be One of the Most Significant Cabinet Changes in Anwar’s Government

Anthony Loke’s resignation is more than a routine ministerial transition. It is the political consequence of a disagreement over how Malaysia should handle a former leader convicted in a major corruption case.

The High Court’s November 10 order has cleared the way for Najib to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest, but the separate 1MDB case remains unresolved.

For Loke, the court decision triggered the commitment he made weeks earlier. For DAP, the challenge is to maintain its position on accountability while remaining part of Anwar’s governing coalition.

For Anwar, the immediate task is to manage the Transport Ministry transition without allowing the dispute to weaken the government’s political stability.

The bigger question is whether Loke’s resignation will remain an isolated Cabinet departure—or whether the controversy surrounding Najib’s house arrest will deepen divisions within Malaysia’s unity government.