Zahid reminds Loke of pledge to resign from Cabinet post if Najib is released for house arrest today

KUALA LUMPUR — Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Transport Minister Anthony Loke to resign today if former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released on house arrest, according to a New Straits Times report. Zahid emphasized at a press conference in Istanbul that Loke must fulfill his promise immediately if Najib is released.

The Deputy Prime Minister, currently in Istanbul for a four-day working visit and a panel discussion at the TRT World Forum 2026, stressed that this is not merely a political statement. The fine of RM50 million paid by Umno paved the way for Najib's conditional pardon from Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, allowing him to serve the remainder of his term under house arrest until August 23, 2028.

Loke had previously submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on September 29 but was asked to remain temporarily in office. Najib has been incarcerated since August 23, 2022, following the Federal Court's confirmation of his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. His original sentence of 12 years in jail and a RM210 million fine was reduced by the Federal Territories Pardons Board to six years and RM50 million in January 2024.