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

Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on Transport Minister Anthony Loke to step down today if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released following the settlement of his RM50 million fine. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

First Published: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 5:22 PM MYT

Last Modified: Friday, 06 Nov 2026 5:23 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on Transport Minister Anthony Loke to step down today if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released following the settlement of his RM50 million fine.

Zahid said Loke must honour his pledge, according to a New Straits Times report.

“I hope he will fulfil his promise. I think this is not merely a political statement,” he said at a press conference in Istanbul.

“He must do it immediately if Datuk Seri Najib is released today.”

Zahid is in Istanbul for a four-day working visit to Turkiye, where he is attending the TRT World Forum 2026 as a panellist and holding meetings focused on TVET and education cooperation.

The challenge comes after Umno confirmed that the fine had been paid at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, paving the way for house arrest under Najib’s conditional pardon.

Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon on September 18, permitting him to serve the rest of his term under house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided the fine and other conditions are met.

Loke had said on September 29 that he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but was asked to remain in office temporarily.

Najib, 73, has been at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction over the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

His original sentence was 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine, which the Federal Territories Pardons Board reduced in January 2024 to six years and RM50 million.