MELAKA (Nov 11): Pakatan Harapan's (PH) Melaka state election machinery has expressed its appreciation to DAP secretary general Anthony Loke for his service as transport minister from December 2022 until his resignation on Tuesday.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said Loke's decision to step down should be respected.
“His commitment in carrying out his responsibilities as transport minister and his decision to resign deserve respect,” he told a daily press conference at the PH main operations room here on Wednesday.
Loke announced his immediate resignation as transport minister following the Kuala Lumpur High Court's order allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in his SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest at his residence in Langgak Duta, effective Tuesday.
Asked whether the development could affect public support for PH in the Melaka state election, Adly said he would leave it to the people to make their own assessment.
“But our fundamental principle is that justice, sentencing and any form of punishment must be fair to all Malaysians,” he said.
Adly said PH would continue its Melaka election campaign as usual, focusing on explaining its manifesto and engaging with voters ahead of polling day this Saturday.
He said one of PH's priorities was ensuring the state's economic development generated quality jobs with better wages for local residents, particularly young people.
Citing Department of Statistics Malaysia data, he said the median monthly salary of Malaysian citizens working in Melaka stood at RM2,773 in 2025, below the national median of RM2,940.
He said investments must therefore translate into jobs that matched workers' qualifications, offered stable incomes and provided opportunities for career advancement.
“For example, industrial development should create pathways to technical jobs such as maintenance technicians, quality control personnel and automation specialists, enabling local residents to build careers in Melaka,” he said.
Adly said improving employment quality also required skills training tailored to actual industry needs, including closer collaboration between employers and training institutions.
The effectiveness of such programmes, he said, should be measured by the number of participants who secured jobs, remained employed and achieved higher incomes.
Adly also urged PH campaign machinery to intensify its efforts and remain focused in all contested seats until the final day of campaigning.
He reminded voters currently outside Melaka to plan their journeys home to fulfil their responsibility at the ballot box this Saturday.
Uploaded by Chng Shear Lane