MACC to quiz Najib over RM2.6 billion donation

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission will ask prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to explain the RM2.6 billion donation that was banked into his bank accounts. – Reuters pic, August 5, 2015.The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) will ask Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to explain the RM2.6 billion donation that was banked into his bank accounts.

The anti-graft agency said that it had established the identity of the donor, who is from the Middle East, adding that they had obtained an explanation from the donating party as well.

In a statement today, MACC, however, said that it cannot reveal the identity of the donor.

On Monday the commission said that the RM2.6 billion came from donors and was not from debt-ridden state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

MACC also said that it obtained details on the donor through documents from the bank, which included four letters that was handed to the bank after the large sum was deposited into Najib's account.

"It was stated in those documents that the RM2.6 billion was a donation.

"And the donation has no connection to 1MDB, " the commission said.

MACC also said that they were asked by the Attorney-General to clarify the issue.

"We also had discussions with the Attorney-General who asked us to explain the matter while the probe was still ongoing.

"We would also like to state that we would be calling prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to give an explanation on the donation he received‎," the agency said.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had on July 2 published an article quoting an "unnamed investigator" saying that almost US$700mil (RM2.6 billion) of funds from 1MDB-liked companies flowed into Najib's personal accounts before the 13th general election.

1MDB refuted the claim, while Najib denied taking any state funds for personal gain.

Despite threatening to sue WSJ over the allegation, Najib never explicitly denied that the money was in his accounts.

On Monday, MACC issued a statement that the RM2.6 billion was from donors and not from 1MDB.

Some Cabinet members have defended the holding of the alleged political donations in a personal account, saying Najib had the power to do as an Umno trustee. – August 5, 2015.