30/09/2026

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 30, 2026

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Loke to temporarily remain in Cabinet

was a party decision intended to reaffirm DAP’s position on Najib’s house arrest. “This is a party decision, based on DAP’s response and position on the issue of Najib’s house arrest, which we do not agree with.” He also said Anwar had acknowledged that Najib had yet to return home and therefore asked him to continue performing his duties until that happened. “So he (Anwar) said, while Najib has not returned home, continue your duties. If, say, tomorrow he is released and returns home, then my resignation takes effect.” Despite having tendered his resignation, Loke said he remained in charge of the Transport Ministry and would continue serving until his resignation took effect. He also said there was currently no replacement for him. When asked whether he was rushing to push through projects before leaving office, Loke rejected the suggestion. “I am doing my duties not because I am going to leave the post. The ministry’s planning is not done at the last minute. “We have plans throughout the year. We have a strategic plan every year managed by the ministry’s secretary-general. “Our duties and execution are based on our strategic plan.” Loke had announced his decision to resign on Sept 19 following a DAP Central Executive Committee meeting in response to the conditional pardon granted to Najib. The move followed the party’s discussion on the issue of Najib serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, with Loke saying his resignation was intended to reaffirm DAP’s position on the matter. Anwar had previously said he

o Official resignation tied to commencement of Najib’s house arrest

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA Transport Minister Anthony Loke has handed in his resignation, but will stay on in Cabinet for now, with his exit tied to the day when former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak begin serving his house arrest. Loke said he handed his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday after meeting him, but Anwar asked him to continue carrying out his duties temporarily while he considers the resignation. “I want to emphasise that my resignation letter has been handed to the prime minister. I had a discussion with him yesterday (Sept 28). “In that discussion, he asked me to continue my duties for the time being. He will make a decision,” he said at a press conference on the sidelines of Malaysia Maritime Week 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday. Loke said he had agreed to remain in office, but insisted that there must be a defined timeframe for his resignation to take effect. “That timeframe is the day Najib returns home. On that day, my resignation will take effect.” Asked when that would be, Loke said he did not know when Najib would be allowed to return home. “I don’t know. Do you know when Najib will return home? I don’t know either. Maybe he will leave tomorrow. Who knows?” He added that his resignation LUMPUR:

Loke said Anwar had acknowledged that Najib had yet to return home and therefore asked him to continue performing his duties until that happened. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

to Anwar upon returning from China, where he accompanied the prime minister on a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou at the invitation of the Chinese government.

political interests for the party to withdraw from the government, adding that such pressure could destabilise the Unity government. Loke subsequently said he would submit his resignation letter

advised Loke to reconsider his resignation and would hold further discussions with the DAP secretary general to hear his explanation. He also said DAP should not yield to calls from parties with

Mahathir: ‘I didn’t expect her to die today’

Anwar defends Myanmar repatriation KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended Malaysia’s decision to repatriate Myanmar nationals, saying it was unfair to blame the government for seeking a long-term solution to an issue that has persisted for decades. He said Malaysia would continue negotiations with Myanmar to safeguard the welfare, safety and basic rights of those being repatriated, while emphasising that the country could not (Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing) to Malaysia. We will continue to negotiate and look at the parameters of how this problem can be resolved.” He added that any repatriation must be carried out in an orderly manner, with appropriate safeguards for the welfare of those returning. “There is no country that can simply accept hundreds of thousands, and some countries receive millions. So we need to negotiate.”

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

children, were taking turns to accompany Mahathir so he would not be left alone. The sudden loss had also left the family struggling to adjust to a home without Siti Hasmah. Marina said the family had grown accustomed to having her mother at

appreciation to the Pahang royal family for making the journey to offer their condolences and pay their last respects to Siti Hasmah. Siti Hasmah died at about 9.20am on Monday at the National Heart Institute at the age of 100. For the family, the loss is deeply personal,

PETALING JAYA: “I didn’t expect her to die today (Monday).” Those poignant words from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ( pic) captured the shock and grief of losing his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, who had appeared to be in good health just hours before her death. Mahathir, 101, said he had not expected his lifelong companion to die after she appeared well the night before. In a video shared on Mahathir’s social media accounts, he was seen speaking with Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who had travelled to pay his final respects to Siti Hasmah. “I didn’t expect her to die today (Monday). She was quite well last night,” Mahathir told the former king in a sombre exchange. Al-Sultan Abdullah offered words of comfort to the grieving former prime minister. “ Allah loves her more. Tun, you have to take care of yourself,” he said. Mahathir also expressed his

home and was finding it difficult to accept that she was no longer there. “We all miss her. We were used to seeing our mother at home but now it is difficult to believe that she is gone.” Their son, Mukhriz Mahathir, said his father remained by her side until her final breath. Marina also thanked members of the public who came to pay their last respects to Siti Hasmah at the mosque and grave yesterday. “I, and the whole family, am deeply touched by all the messages and tributes given to our mother.” She added that the tributes were particularly meaningful as many people regarded Siti Hasmah as their own mother.

Media reports said Malaysia began the first phase of its Voluntary Repatriation Programme yesterday, involving 1,476 Myanmar nationals identified by the Myanmar authorities. The group is part of 5,000 Myanmar nationals scheduled to return in stages following discussions between both governments. Anwar said Malaysia would continue using diplomatic channels to establish the appropriate parameters for the process, including safeguards for those returning. When asked whether Myanmar had provided assurances on the safety of those being repatriated, Anwar said the authorities had so far agreed to receive their nationals. – By Harith Kamal

particularly for Mahathir, who had spent nearly seven decades with her. Their daughter Datuk Marina Mahathir said her father remained in good health but was struggling with the loneliness and grief of losing his wife and lifelong companion. “Of course, my father is sad. She was his partner for 70 years. He is just feeling lonely, so we are all trying to spend as much time with him as possible, day and night,” she said after visiting Siti Hasmah’s grave at the National Heroes’ Cemetery in Precinct 20 yesterday. Marina arrived at about 10.40am and placed a bouquet at her mother’s grave. She said family members, including her siblings and their

indefinitely accommodate hundreds of thousands of individuals without addressing the issue at its source. “Our position is to protect their welfare and human rights, but to condemn Malaysia for taking this initiative, I think that is unfair. “We are trying to find an amicable solution.” Anwar was speaking after officiating at the Professional Conference and Exhibition 2026 at the KLGCC Convention Centre yesterday. He added that the situation in Myanmar remained complex and could not be resolved simply by urging Malaysia not to repatriate its nationals. “That is why I invited him