Najib accountable to nation, not only Umno, says PKR’s Surendran

Padang Serai MP N. Surendran says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must be accountable to the nation and not only Umno. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 9, 2015. 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak must be accountable not only to Umno but to the nation, over the RM2.6 billion political donation in his personal accounts, said an opposition lawmaker.

Padang Serai MP N. Surendran said Prime Minister Najib as Umno president was entitled to explain the donation to his party men, but of greater priority was to explain it in Parliament.

“As prime minister, he is accountable to all Malaysians,” he told The Malaysian Insider through an SMS.

He was commenting on reports that Najib explained the RM2.6 billion and allegations against him by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in a closed-door meeting with Umno's 191 division chiefs last night.

Vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein told the press later of Najib's briefing to the grassroots leaders at a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Zahid said Najib disputed the claim by Dr Mahathir that Malaysians would become “beggars in their own country” if he continued as prime minister.

Najib stressed that the person who donated RM2.6 billion “did not expect anything in return” and that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) knew the donor's identity.

Najib also explained at length various issues about state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), its assets and financial performance.

Last week Najib failed to attend the Dewan Rakyat on the last day of the sitting to explain the RM2.6 billion and 1MDB controversy.

Instead, Zahid in a three-minute ministerial statement said the matter was sub judice as investigations were ongoing.

But on Saturday, MACC officers recorded a statement from Najib on SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion.

MACC's director of investigation Datuk Azam Baki in Monday said his officers had met with the donor of the RM2.6 billion but the identity was withheld because of ongoing investigations.

- TMI