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Malaysian political tension over Najib Razak pardon

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2026-09-21 02:22 UTC → 2026-09-21 08:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Malaysia’s Transport Minister and Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general, Anthony Loke, has offered to resign from his cabinet post. The offer serves as a protest against the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision to grant a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Under the pardon terms, Najib will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, upon payment of a reduced RM50 million fine. Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar has confirmed that the fine has not yet been paid. Najib’s legal counsel, Messrs Shafee & Co., noted that the payment process may be complicated by the fact that a substantial portion of his assets and bank accounts are currently frozen by the government. Consequently, Najib is expected to remain in Kajang Prison until the financial conditions are met. While the Royal Malaysian Police have not received official confirmation regarding the logistics of a transfer to his residence in Langgak Duta, security preparations are reportedly underway, with supervision to be managed by the Malaysian Prison Department. Loke clarified that his resignation is a personal stance and does not apply to other DAP members in the unity government, aiming to maintain political stability. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has indicated he has not yet decided on a potential Cabinet reshuffle and intends to meet with Loke to discuss his position once the minister returns from discussions in Shanghai. Anwar noted that Loke is a “man of principle” who has consistently opposed policies suggesting leniency toward corruption. Following his discussions in Shanghai, Loke has officially announced his resignation as Transport Minister. The decision remains a protest against the pardon granted to Najib, who was previously convicted for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal. While Loke is stepping down, other DAP ministers intend to remain in the cabinet to preserve the stability of the ruling coalition. Loke is expected to return to Malaysia to finalize his resignation and manage outstanding ministerial responsibilities.

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