‘He sacrificed his position so Malaysians wouldn’t lose hope’ - Kelvin Yii on Loke's resignation

SHAH ALAM - DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) member Kelvin Yii has praised the party's leader Anthony Loke for taking responsibility and stepping down as Transport Minister following DAP’s decision over former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conditional pardon.

In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, the former DAPSY national chief said Loke’s decision had prompted questions about why he should bear the consequences of a decision made at the prerogative of another.

“Many have asked me, why did Anthony have to resign when the decision was made at the prerogative of another? Why should the actions of others cost us a hardworking, competent and principled Minister?” he said.

Loke announced his resignation after a three-hour DAP CEC meeting on Saturday, while the party’s other ministers agreed to remain in the Federal Cabinet to maintain political stability.

Yii, who is Bandar Kuching MP, said the situation reminded him of advice Loke had given him years ago when he was entrusted to lead DAPSY.

“Leadership is something many desire, but few want to take responsibility for. Make sure you show a good example of how a competent and mature youth leader should be,” he quoted Loke as saying.

Yii said he had never forgotten those words and had tried to make them his “compass”.

“Now he has shown us, in the most powerful way, what they truly mean,” he said.

Yii said Loke had “taken it upon himself” and resisted calls to “sacrifice” others, choosing instead to bear responsibility despite the matter not being entirely his to bear.

“He did so to ensure the public would not lose hope in Malaysia and in the system, at the expense of his own position and personal interest, even though he deserves so much more.

“It is about being willing to carry the weight of responsibility so that the interests of the people and the nation are upheld,” he said.

Yii said the episode offered a lesson for younger politicians, arguing that leadership was not about holding on to positions, including positions one may deserve.

He also thanked Loke for believing in young leaders and urged him to remain strong amid the criticism.

“Let your conscience guide you, as you always have. I am proud to be in the DAP, and we stand with you, together, for our nation," he added.

Loke had said his resignation was DAP’s response to the conditional pardon granted to Najib, while stressing that the party respected the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to grant pardons. DAP’s other Cabinet members will remain in government.