Umno must return money if taken from 1MDB, says PM

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that any funds Umno may have received from 1MDB must be returned to the government, following the MACC freezing the accounts of the party and its Selangor chapter on Thursday.

"We need to know where the money comes from and if it is from 1MDB, it has to be returned," Mahathir told reporters after attending a Bersatu Aidilfitri open house in Langkawi.

Besides the accounts of central and Selangor Umno, MACC has moved to freeze about 900 accounts linked to the troubled state investment firm.

Earlier today, former prime minister Najib Tun Razak took the government’s 1MDB taskforce to task by saying that the accounts of specific individuals could have been frozen instead.

Najib added that ongoing investigations would not be jeopardised should Umno’s accounts be left unfrozen.

"Isn't it easy to obtain the record of transaction of the bank accounts if they are needed by the investigating officer?

"The political parties had done nothing wrong. Umno and SUPP had done nothing wrong, so did other parties in Pakatan Harapan, as it is usual (for parties) to receive political funds.

“The existing laws do not outlaw the political funding,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page.

The former premier and 1MDB are being probed under several laws, which include the MACC Act 2009, the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (AMLA) Act 2001 and the Penal Code.

Najib has insisted no wrongdoing in the matter. -Mkini