Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming reiterated his conditional pledge to resign from the Cabinet if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was released without serving a sentence commensurate with his conviction. Nga emphasized this was not a general promise to resign if Barisan Nasional (BN) won the 2026 Johor state election, but a stand to defend judicial integrity and the rule of law [1, 2, 3, 4].
BN secured a landslide victory in the Johor election on July 10, winning 48 of 56 seats and regaining a two-thirds majority in the state assembly [5, 6, 7]. Following the win, some Umno and PAS leaders called for Nga to resign, citing his remarks. Puad Zarkashi urged him to step down immediately to protect his own integrity and that of the Unity Government [1, 2, 3, 4].
Nga thanked Pakatan Harapan voters and supporters, promising the party would continue to work hard despite the electoral setback. He sidestepped questions about resigning after the BN victory, focusing instead on serving the people and conducting aid distribution for storm victims [5, 1, 2, 3, 7]. "My heart is truly with the people. I can feel their pain and hardships. When I come to help, let us avoid all these issues," Nga said [5].
Najib Razak’s conviction is linked to causing Malaysians to bear RM51.4 billion in debt related to the 1MDB scandal. Nga’s pledge is conditional on Najib being released without serving a fitting sentence despite this guilty verdict [1, 2, 3, 4]. He declared, "Should such a situation occur, I am willing to resign as a member of the cabinet in order to defend the integrity of our beloved country's judicial system" [1].
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi downplayed Nga’s resignation vow, describing it as inappropriate but not worth escalating tension. Zahid emphasized that relations within the Unity Government remain very good, adding, "It’s all right, I’ll meet him — he’s my friend" [8].
DAP Socialist Youth Perak accused Umno Youth of misrepresenting Nga's words by quoting him out of context. Dapsy argued the narrative demanding Nga's resignation was misleading and politically motivated rather than in the public interest [4].
On July 12, Nga led the Sentuhan Kasih outreach programme in Negeri Sembilan, emphasizing continued public service despite political pressures [7]. He continues to carry out public duties amidst calls for his resignation [7].
Nga Kor Ming’s next public engagements and responses to ongoing calls for his resignation remain focal points in the political discourse following BN’s Johor victory.
