SHAH ALAM - Transport Minister Anthony Loke has reiterated that his resignation will take effect immediately once former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrives at his residence to begin serving the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Loke said his decision remained unchanged despite Najib having settled the RM50 million fine imposed in the SRC International corruption case at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday morning.
“As soon as Najib arrives at his house, my resignation will take effect immediately. If he steps into his house tonight, then my resignation will take effect tonight,” he said at a press conference at the Transport Ministry today.
Loke said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had informed him that Najib had stopped at a dental clinic for a check-up before returning home.
Umno had confirmed earlier that the RM50 million fine had been paid at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, paving the way for the implementation of Najib's house arrest arrangement under the terms of his conditional pardon.
Loke had previously revealed on Sept 29 that he had submitted his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but was asked to remain in office temporarily.
His latest remarks follow 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 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 imprisoned after the Federal Court upheld his conviction in the SRC International corruption 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.