Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan today questioned the source of the RM2.6 billion in donations into Datuk Seri Njib Razak's personal bank accounts. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — Prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan urged Malaysia’s graftbusters today to reveal the source of the RM2.6 billion that they claimed had been deposited by “donors” into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts.
According to Ambiga, if the donations had come from a foreign source, it would likely be in breach of several laws, including those covering money laundering.
“RM2.6 billion has many zeros. In my view, the statement by MACC still causes me concern as it means whoever donated such large sums is likely to expect benefit,” said the former Bar Council president, using the acronym for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Whoever donated such large sums would have an agenda. What is that agenda?”
MACC confirmed earlier today that RM2.6 billion had been deposited into Najib’s accounts, but said the funds came from “donors” and not 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) as previously alleged.
In a statement to announce its findings, the MACC did not, however, disclose the identities of these donors or the purpose of the contribution, as well as how the money was spent.
In reply, Ambiga asked whether the statement issued by MACC — which was unsigned — had been vetted by chairman Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
She also asked who from MACC had authorised it.
“The timing of the statement and the contents are questionable given all the other actions of the government to suppress and intimidate the MACC,” said Ambiga, who is also the president of the National Human Rights Society (Hakam).
“If there has been an interference in the work of MACC, then those who have played any part in it would have acted against the law and illegally.”
In a report in June, US-based daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing documents from Malaysian investigators currently scrutinising the troubled 1MDB’s financials, claimed that a money trail showed that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) were moved among government agencies, banks and companies before it ended up in Najib’s accounts.
Najib has repeatedly denied taking funds from 1MDB or any other public entity for “personal gain” and his lawyers have since asked the WSJ to state if it is accusing the prime minister of misappropriating funds.
The special task force leading a separate probe on 1MDB said last month that two bank accounts held by Najib in AmBank were already closed long before an investigation was launched against the misappropriation.
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