Source: MACC met one donor, not donors

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) met a single individual from the Middle East on the RM2.6 billion ‘political donation’ found in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s bank account, said a source.

Based on the information obtained, the source, who is familiar with the investigations, said there was only a single donor.

“We only met one person. When, where, and who, however, cannot be revealed,” he told Malaysiakini.

This appeared to contradict Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement today that more than one person had contributed to the colossal sum.

In media statements issued on Aug 3 and Aug 5, MACC said it had obtained details of the “donor” and confirmed, based on documents procured, that the RM2.6 billion was a donation and that the money was not from 1MDB.

Last week, MACC director of investigations Mohd Azam Baki told the media that investigators had met the “donor”.

However, in an exclusive interview with TV3, New Straits Times andUtusan Malaysia earlier this week, Najib said he received the sum from “penderma-penderma” (donors).

“I have not committed any offence or malpractice, this has been explained in Parliament by the deputy prime minister.

"The donors have been verified and found by MACC and the commission also obtained their statements," he had said.

In another exclusive interview in The Star published today, the prime minister once again mentioned more than one donor.

No explanation on SRC’s RM42m

The RM2.6 billion was transferred ahead of the general election in 2013, and despite the prime minister’s explanation, critics like former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad continue to raise questions on the issue.

Dismissing the donation claim, Mahathir said Arabs are not that generous.

MACC is probing the RM2.6 billion ‘donation’ amid calls from even within Umno for the prime minister to step down.

The commission is also investigating Najib on a separate issue - the RM42 million transferred into his bank accounts by the Finance Ministry-owned SRC International Sdn Bhd through its subsidiaries.

Putrajaya has yet to offer an explanation for the RM42 million, which was transferred in late 2014 and early this year.

Najib has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and blamed the allegations on those conspiring to topple him.

Last Saturday, a team of MACC officers had recorded Najib’s statement on both matters.

Despite numerous phone calls and text messages, MACC’s Mohd Azam could not be reached for comment over the ‘donor' or 'donors’ contradiction. -Mkini