Yeoh says DAP CEC decision final when asked if felt pressured to quit over Najib house arrest

Hannah Yeoh, who sits on the Federal Territories Pardons Board, has referred to the DAP central executive committee’s (CEC) decision when asked whether she felt pressured to resign as a minister following the decision to allow former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

The DAP deputy secretary-general said the CEC’s decision to accept secretary-general Anthony Loke’s offer to resign as transport minister was final and must be respected.

Yeoh (above), who is the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), said the CEC reached its decision after taking into account the views raised during the meeting.

“The final decision, namely the CEC's, which is the highest decision-making body, is that Loke offered to resign.

“And that is the CEC's decision. I don't want to reveal the other discussions because those were part of the CEC's deliberations, but we have to respect the decision made by the CEC,” she told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Loke announced on Saturday that he was resigning as transport minister in response to the additional clemency granted to Najib but said other DAP ministers and deputy ministers would remain.

Meanwhile, Yeoh also declined to comment when asked if the Pardons Board would release the minutes of its meeting.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim denied allegations that he paved the way for the conditional pardon granted to Najib (above), saying that every prisoner has the right to apply for a royal pardon.

Anwar said the Pardons Board had the jurisdiction to evaluate applications by taking into account the advice of the prime minister and the attorney-general at the federal level, while the final decision rests with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I wish to reiterate that every prisoner has the right to submit an appeal, and I defend that right for anyone, including Najib. He has the right to submit his appeal for consideration by the pardons board and the king,” he added.

Reduced participation fee

In a separate development, Yeoh announced that the participation fee for the 2026 Deepavali Bazaar would be reduced by 85 percent to a maximum of RM400, including a deposit, compared with RM2,626 previously.

She said the move aligns with the government's aim to reduce the cost of doing business for traders in Kuala Lumpur.

The bazaar's operating period would also be extended from 21 days to 30 days, from Oct 9 to Nov 7.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Fadlun Mak Ujud said 172 lots would be provided this year, compared with 164 last year.

Of these, 122 lots would be located at the Tun Sambanthan Complex car park on Jalan Tun Sambanthan, while another 20 lots would be provided at the Jalan Bunus 6 car park in Little India.

In addition, about 30 spaces would be provided along Jalan Brickfields (above) for shopkeepers' promotional activities.

Fadlun said the ballot for the bazaar lots would be held on Sept 22 and 23.

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