Najib’s claim of S$897m to fight ISIS full of holes, says DAP

KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Najib Razak should come clean about the RM2.6 billion (S$897 million) donation made to his personal accounts following revelations that the money was given to Malaysia for fighting militant group ISIS, opposition party DAP said today (Aug 17).

Its parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang added that this latest “spin” was so far the most “ludicrous and outrageous” explanation of the funds deposited into Mr Najib’s accounts.

“It has been said that once you tell a lie, you need to tell ten more lies to cover the first lie,” Mr Lim said in a statement today.

“But the latest spin that the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts originated from Saudi Arabia as an appreciation to Malaysia for championing Islam, fighting ISIS and for practising Sunni Islam really takes the cake for being the most ludicrous and outrageous explanation so far.”

Mr Najib’s claim was full of holes and could not hold up under scrutiny, Mr Lim, the Gelang Patah MP said, adding that the prime minister had previously glorified the terror group in a speech at an UMNO function.

“If it were true that the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal bank account was allegedly in appreciation for Malaysia’s efforts in combating ISIS, then Najib would not have sung the praises for ISIS at the 20th anniversary dinner of the Cheras UMNO Branch on June 24, 2014, calling on UMNO members to emulate their bravery.

“The deposit of RM2.6 billion into Najib’s personal bank accounts occurred in March 2013, more than a year before Najib’s speech to Cheras UMNO and the creation of the caliphate and the change of Isis to the Islamic State,” he added.

In a speech made one week before militant group Isis declared the creation of a caliphate and changed its name to the Islamic State, Mr Najib had said UMNO should follow their example of bravery if the Malay nationalist party wanted to survive.

“With this history and background, who will believe that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts in March 2014 in appreciation of Malaysia’s combat against Isis?” Mr Lim said today.

“Najib should come clean on the RM2.6 billion deposit into his private bank accounts and stop telling lies, like the latest one on its being donated from Saudi Arabia in appreciation of Malaysia’s combat against ISIS, which has immediately been torn to piece with close scrutiny.”

UMNO Kuantan division chief Wan Adnan Wan Mamat had been reported as saying in Sinar Harian that the money was a form of appreciation to Malaysia for “championing Islam” and fighting ISIS.

“It was an appreciation to Malaysia for championing Islam and for practising Sunni Islam (Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah),” Mr Wan Adnan was quoted as saying.

Mr Wan Adnan said Mr Najib had said this to 146 UMNO divisional leaders at a meeting last Wednesday.

“Not only did Malaysia receive the donation from Saudi Arabia, two or three more countries also received, including the Muslim community in the Philippines and (southern) Thailand,” Mr Wan Adnan was further reported as saying during the opening of the UMNO Kuantan division meeting.

Mr Lim added that Mr Najib had lost all moral authority to propose a committee to study political funding regulations as long as the prime minister continued to “fudge and bluff” about the RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts.

“Najib’s proposal of a National Consultative Council on Political Funding, although a dead duck, may still be salvageable if he could re-establish his moral authority to talk about transparency and integrity of political funding.

“There is only one way for Najib to regain moral authority on transparency, integrity and good governance principles – and this is for him to immediately give a full and satisfactory explanation about the RM2.6 billion deposit into his personal bank accounts and about the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal.”

Mr Lim gave Mr Najib and his Cabinet a Wednesday deadline to explain both 1MBD’s debt scandal and the donation to his personal bank accounts.

“Before the expiry of the 96-hour ultimatum on Wednesday, all ministers should declare whether they have received handouts from Najib’s personal accounts, and how much, or state clearly and unmistakably that they had not been beneficiaries at all,” Mr Lim said. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER