Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming declared he is prepared to resign from the Cabinet if former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is released without serving a punishment matching his conviction in the 1MDB scandal, which saddled Malaysia with RM51.4 billion in debt [1]. Nga said, "If Datuk Seri Najib, who caused the Malaysian public to bear the RM51.4 billion 1MDB debt, can be released without serving a punishment befitting the offence despite already being found guilty, it means the credibility of the nation’s judicial system has been pawned, and the principle of the rule of law as enshrined in the Rukun Negara is also no longer respected" [1].
The pledge came following Barisan Nasional's (BN) strong showing in the Johor state election on July 11, 2026, where BN won 48 out of 56 seats [1, 2]. Nga congratulated BN on its two-thirds majority victory and emphasized respecting the democratic process [1]. Nga also serves as deputy chairman of opposition party DAP and had recently presented RM1 million in aid to storm-affected families in Bercham in June [1].
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi responded, saying he would meet Nga over the resignation remarks but described such statements as unnecessary within their unity government, urging appropriate conduct [2, 3]. Zahid said, "Such statements should be made appropriately because we meet every week in Cabinet meetings. If such a statement came from the opposition, perhaps we could view it differently. But if we are all part of the same government, there is no need to make such statements. It is alright, I will meet him. He is also my friend" [3]. Zahid characterized relations within the unity government as professional, stable, and cooperative despite public perception [2, 3].
Nga made his resignation pledge publicly on July 12, the day after BN's Johor election win [1]. Zahid announced on July 13 he would meet Nga to discuss the remarks and emphasized the importance of unity government's cooperation [3].
The political standoff highlights continuing tensions around Najib’s legal case despite BN’s electoral success. The government awaits further developments regarding Najib’s sentence and potential release.
