Umno man in RM2.6b image gone viral sees red

An Umno division leader is upset that his “misquoted” statement on the RM2.6 billion donation issue is being used by political rivals to cast further aspersion on the matter.

An image with Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib and attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali is being circulated on social media.

In the image, the AG is quoted as saying that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had returned RM2.03 billion to the Saudi royal family because the sum was not used whereas Mohd Khusairi is featured stating, “I am confident the RM2.6 billion was spent in total for Umno”.

The Tanjung Malim Umno division leader, in a statement published in MyKMU.net, claimed his remarks on the matter were misquoted by a reporter who spoke to him last August, a month after the donation issue was exposed.

“My statement, which has been made viral (on the social media) is based on a telephone conversation with a reporter.

“I never said that I was ‘confident’ the total amount was spent for Umno.

“What I actually said is that it is not impossible for the amount to be spent for the BN campaign to face the 13th general election,” he said.

As the BN chairperson, Mohd Khusairi said, Najib does not only have to take care of Umno, but also other component parties to ensure the election machinery operates smoothly.

“This is not taking into account the large number of NGOs that are also hoping for funds from him,” he added.

Criticising those behind the images, Mohd Khusairi said this issue was nothing compared to the lies and slander hurled at Najib over the donation.

“It is these lies and slander by the famous experts in the art of political manipulation that should be compared with the AG’s statement and not an unpopular leader like me,” he added.

Nevertheless, Mohd Khusairi, on a sarcastic note, thanked the creator of the image for promoting a “small leader” like him.

On Tuesday, the AG cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing with regard to the RM2.6 billion and SRC International cases.

Apandi said the Saudi royal family gave the donation, ahead of the last general election, without strings attached while a BBC report, quoting a source, reported that the fund came from the late King Abdullah.

The prime minister has repeatedly denied having abused public funds for personal gain and blamed the corruption allegations against on those plotting his downfall. -Mkini