Loke Siew Fook

Summary

Anthony Loke Siew Fook is a DAP politician from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, who has represented the Seremban parliamentary constituency since 2013 and is currently serving his second term as Malaysia's Minister of Transport under the Unity Government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. He simultaneously holds the position of DAP Secretary-General, to which he was first elected in March 2022 and re-elected in March 2025. His public record spans over two decades of elected office, with his ministerial tenure centred on transport sector reform, public transit expansion, and the digitisation of transport services.

Biography

Anthony Loke Siew Fook (born 28 April 1977) is a Malaysian politician representing the Democratic Action Party (DAP). He was born in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, and was educated at St. Paul's Institution and Seri Ampangan High School before graduating from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Development Science [1]. He joined DAP in 1994 at the age of 17 and built his party career through the DAPSY youth wing, eventually serving as its national chief, and later as National Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Leader of DAP [1]. He made his electoral debut in the 2004 Negeri Sembilan state election, winning the Lobak state seat, and was first elected to Parliament for the Rasah constituency in the 2008 general election [1]. In the 2013 general election, he switched to the Seremban parliamentary seat and the Chennah state seat, both of which he has retained in subsequent elections [1]. Following the Pakatan Harapan federal election victory in May 2018, he was appointed Minister of Transport on 21 May 2018, a role he held until the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020 [1]. At the 17th DAP National Congress in March 2022, he was elected as the 6th Secretary-General of DAP, succeeding Lim Guan Eng [2]. After PH returned to federal government as part of the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim following the November 2022 general election, he was reappointed Minister of Transport on 3 December 2022 [1]. He was re-elected as DAP Secretary-General at the 18th National Congress in March 2025, receiving 2,508 votes [1]. He concurrently serves as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, a position he has held since 2004 [3].

Known for

Loke Siew Fook is known as a long-serving DAP parliamentarian who has held the Seremban seat since 2013 and has served two terms as Malaysia's Minister of Transport across two separate administrations. He is the 6th Secretary-General of DAP, re-elected to the post in March 2025, and has been a central figure in the party's transition to third-generation leadership. His ministerial record is associated with the digitisation of transport services, the national expansion of the BAS.MY stage bus network, and legislative reform in road transport safety.

Political positions

As Minister of Transport, Loke has advocated for the digitisation of government transport services, including the introduction of a digital road tax and driving licence (e-LKM and e-LMM) under the RTD digitalisation programme, which Bernama reported he stated could reduce congestion at JPJ offices by up to 80 per cent and save RM96 million annually in sticker and card costs. He has overseen the rollout of the BAS.MY stage bus service to all state capitals outside Kuala Lumpur and Penang, which The Edge described as a milestone in Malaysia's land transport development. As DAP Secretary-General, he has publicly stated that the party opposes political appointments to Bursa-listed GLCs, and champions a model of collective and inclusive party leadership. He has called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into allegations of a 'corporate mafia' exploiting enforcement institutions, a proposal The Edge reported has not been acted upon by the cabinet. He has also articulated the strategic importance of the Strait of Malacca to Malaysia's maritime and logistics economy, describing maritime trade security as 'an absolute economic imperative'. On inter-party relations, he has dismissed any DAP-MCA merger as neither the party's stance nor a realistic prospect.

Education

1. 1977Born in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Later educated at St. Paul's Institution and Seri Ampangan High School.⛓
2. 2000Graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Development Science.⛓

Before politics

1. 1994Joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP) at the age of 17, the minimum age for party membership. Subsequently rose through DAPSY (DAP Socialist Youth), eventually serving as its national chief.⛓

Political career

1. 2004Won the Lobak state seat in the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly in his electoral debut. Also elected as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman, a post he has held since.⛓
2. March 2008Won the Rasah parliamentary seat in GE12, while also retaining the Lobak state seat.⛓
3. May 2013Switched constituencies, winning the Seremban parliamentary seat in GE13 with 45,628 votes and a majority of 12,553, and also won the Chennah state seat.⛓
4. May 2018Retained the Seremban parliamentary seat in GE14 with 55,503 votes and a majority of 30,694 votes, defeating MCA's Chong Sin Woon.⛓
5. 21 May 2018Appointed Minister of Transport in the Pakatan Harapan government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.⛓
6. 24 February 2020Removed as Minister of Transport following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration in the 2020 political crisis.⛓
7. 20 March 2022Elected as the 6th Secretary-General of DAP at the party's 17th National Congress in Shah Alam, succeeding Lim Guan Eng who had held the post for 17 years. Received the 3rd highest vote count (1,625) in the CEC election.⛓
8. 19 November 2022Retained the Seremban parliamentary seat in GE15 with 63,916 votes and a majority of 30,841 votes in a five-way contest.⛓
9. 3 December 2022Reappointed as Minister of Transport in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
10. 12 August 2023Retained the Chennah state seat in the 2023 Negeri Sembilan state election, defeating a Perikatan Nasional candidate, for a third consecutive term.⛓
11. 29 September 2024Re-elected as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman for the 2024–2027 term at the state party convention, topping the polls with 571 out of 658 delegate votes.⛓
12. 16 March 2025Re-elected to the DAP Central Executive Committee with 2,508 votes (5th highest) and reappointed Secretary-General at the 18th DAP National Congress.⛓

Election history

• 2022Seremban (P125)Won51.8%⛓
• 2018Seremban (P125)Won⛓
• 2013Seremban (P125)Won⛓
• 2008Rasah (P124)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs Minister of Transport and DAP Secretary-General within the Unity Government, Loke has articulated the government's commitment to transport digitisation and has publicly stated that no politicians will be appointed to Bursa-listed GLCs.⛓
• VerifiedFactsLoke has won the Seremban parliamentary seat in three consecutive general elections (2013, 2018, 2022), each with a majority exceeding 12,000 votes. He has served as Minister of Transport in two separate administrations and as DAP Secretary-General since March 2022.⛓
• OppositionAccording to Wikipedia citing contemporaneous reports, in February 2019 MCA's international communications bureau head questioned the appropriateness of Loke's wife being present at an official bilateral meeting with China's transport minister counterpart.⛓
• IndustryThe Edge profiled Loke in September 2023 and again in April 2026 noting his dual role as minister and party secretary-general, reporting on his transport reform agenda including airport operating agreement renegotiations, the BAS.MY bus rollout, and his public call for an RCI into the 'corporate mafia' issue.⛓