MACC yet to quiz Najib on RM2.6 billion

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has yet to be questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over the RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 29, 2015. 

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has yet to record a statement from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the status of the RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts, said Datuk Paul Low.

This despite the anti-graft agency saying in August 5 that it will quiz Najib to explain the money which the commission had established came from a Middle Eastern donor.

In a written reply Low, a minister in the prime minister’s department, said MACC was still investigating the issue.

“MACC is still investigating on the issue raised. MACC also want to inform that every witness or individual related to the case will be summoned for investigative purposes.

“To date, statement has yet to be taken from the prime minister and it will be done when the time comes,” Low told Hanipa Maidin (Amanah - Sepang).

Hanipa asked if MACC or the police have summoned Najib to record his statement under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act in relation to the matter.

He also wanted to know when was Najib summoned and the status of the investigation if Najib had his statement taken and, if otherwise, to state why the prime minister had yet to be summoned.

Later at the Parliament lobby, Hanipa was mystified over the delay in taking a statement from Najib.

“I am surprised. The answer given is as though there is no investigation. When are they going to call Najib?  This is a national issue, and international issue.

“The prime minister is the prime person to call and I am sad that to date, there seemed to be no seriousness into this,” he 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) was banked into Najib's personal accounts before the 13th general election in 2013.

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.

Two months ago, MACC issued a statement that the RM2.6 billion was from donors and not from state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (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.

- TMI