Najib has to spend more as BN no longer governs key states, says Rahman Dahlan

Barisan Nasional strategic communications chief Datuk Abdl Rahman Dahlan says it is not unusual that RM2.6 billion would be needed to fund Umno in its quest to take back Selangor from the federal opposition. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 4, 2015.Barisan Nasional strategic communications chief Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan today said it is not unusual if Datuk Seri Najib Razak has to spend more for the party than his predecessors because he is leading at a time when BN is no longer ruling key states in Malaysia.

In an interview with TV1 today, Abdul Rahman said that Najib, as Umno and BN president has to cough up more to support the party nationwide because under his tenure, the party no longer ruled Selangor and several other states.

"Last time, all the previous prime ministers had Selangor under them. But in Najib's case, he has to channel money to keep Umno in Selangor going," he said.

Abdul Rahman said he did not find it "unusual" that a sum of RM2.6 billion would be needed to fund the party, though he did not believe the entirety of the funds was used for elections.

"It was probably used for other party activities and other corporate social responsibility events," he said.

However, he said, Najib had full discretion as to how he wanted to use the money that was donated to the party.

- TMI