SHAH ALAM - Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has challenged Transport Minister Anthony Loke to honour his earlier pledge to resign if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released from prison, following confirmation that the latter’s RM50 million fine has been paid.
Zahid said Loke should step down immediately if Najib was released today under the terms of his conditional pardon, which allows him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
"I hope he will fulfil his promise. I think this is not merely a political statement. He must do it immediately if Datuk Seri Najib is released today," he said at a press conference today.
Umno confirmed today that the RM50 million fine imposed on Najib had been paid at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, paving the way for the implementation of the house arrest arrangement.
Loke had previously said he submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sept 29 but was asked to remain in office temporarily.
His remarks followed the Federal Territories Pardons Board's announcement on Sept 18 that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to grant Najib a conditional pardon during its 64th meeting.
Under the decision, Najib was allowed to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest, subject to payment of the RM50 million fine imposed in the SRC International corruption case.
The board also stipulated that Najib must comply with all conditions imposed for him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.
Najib has been serving his reduced six-year sentence at Kajang Prison after the Pardons Board halved his original 12-year prison term in February 2024. His initial RM210 million fine was also reduced to RM50 million.
The former prime minister was jailed after the Federal Court upheld his conviction in the SRC International case on Aug 23, 2022.
He was found guilty of seven charges involving abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering over RM42 million belonging to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Najib was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million. He was taken to Kajang Prison on the same day to begin serving his sentence, becoming the first former prime minister in Malaysia to be imprisoned following a criminal conviction.