PUTRAJAYA, Oct 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sought again today to make a case for Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook to remain in his Cabinet, saying the country needs principled leaders and that the corrupt should be the ones stepping down.
Speaking at the Transport Ministry during the distribution of RM1,000 special financial assistance to taxi, rental car, and school bus drivers, Anwar commended Loke's dedication to ordinary working Malaysians, including the initiative today.
“Some people think people like him should step down. Why should a good person like him have to resign? The ones who should resign are those involved in corruption,” he said in his speech.
“I told him to stay on and get the job done, because the country needs principled leaders. This country needs leaders who care about ordinary people,” he said, noting that leaders must stay focused on the daily struggles of fishermen, farmers, and low-wage workers.
Loke, who is the DAP secretary-general, tendered his resignation as transport minister on September 19 following the political controversy surrounding the conditional royal pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Loke subsequently clarified on September 29 that he would continue serving until the issue of Najib's proposed house arrest is resolved.
Record plate sales fund driver aid
Today’s ceremony marked the immediate rollout of the RM1,000 one-off grant announced under Budget 2027 last Friday. The initiative is funded entirely by revenue generated from the Transport Ministry's special 'H' vehicle registration series, which netted RM91.2 million, far eclipsing initial projections of RM30 million.
The series set a national record for the most expensive vehicle registration number in Malaysian history, with H1 selling for RM10 million.
“The car is not included; it is just the number plate,” Loke said, in apparent jest. “This is the highest amount ever paid for a single vehicle registration number in our country.”
Loke explained that he proposed channelling the auction proceeds to public transport drivers during a working trip to Sarawak.
“I knew the prime minister had a soft spot for taxi drivers. When I made the proposal, he said, ‘Good idea, go ahead’,” Loke said.
Around 500 drivers received the RM1,000 aid vouchers at today's event to help offset operating overheads and vehicle maintenance.
The ministry will expand distribution nationwide in phases, beginning in Penang on October 17, with early disbursements timed to assist Hindu drivers ahead of the upcoming Deepavali festival.