“That is on record. So when you consider the context, it is a fraction of the amount,” Najib was quoted as saying.
Dr Mahathir, who is now prime minister, was still with Umno during the 13th general election in 2013, before he left the party to set up Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and went on to win the 14th general election under Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Najib reportedly insisted that the RM116 million seized during the recent police raid on premises linked to him were for election expenses.
“You will not know how much it (an election campaign) costs exactly. And you will not know as well how much people will contribute to you.”
“It is impossible to have a clean zero balance so to speak. In any case, when you fight an election, you have to spend pre-election, during election and post-election. Don’t forget I was president of the party of Umno and BN with 13 component parties,” he told Malaysiakini.
He pointed out that during elections, it was more efficient to have cash close at hand instead of trusting the banking system, since the party requires money immediately.
Najib claimed that everything was done in a rush as he had to vacate the Prime Minister’s Office and the official residence at Seri Perdana after the May 9 election, which he said was the reason the cash was kept at Pavilion Residences.
He also accused PH of practising the same when they were in the Opposition.
However, he did admit that some of the RM116 million in cash seized belonged to him since it was found in 26 different currencies.
“There were some of my own because I have been travelling for over 30 years. But there were also contributions in foreign currency, some people would rather contribute in foreign currency,” he added.
Najib: Not illegal to get gifts, cites Dr M’s 40 horses and millions received by Michelle Obama
PETALING JAYA: After the police revealed the staggering RM1bil market value of seized luxury items from six residences linked to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic), the former premier has insisted that, under the law, it is not illegal to receive gifts.
In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini on Wesdnesday (June 27), Najib said that as head of government over the years, “we have been gifted with a lot of items by foreign leaders as well as personal friends”.
According to him, these gifts were accumulated over decades.
“For example, (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) admitted to receiving 40 horses from his friends and foreign leaders, and he openly uses a lot of corporate jets from his friends, so it is not illegal to receive gifts,” Najib added.
In a previous interview with Reuters, Najib had said that most of the luxury items seized were “gifts” given to his wife and daughter and had nothing to do with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
When asked if it was ethical for a person in his position to accept valuable gifts, Najib said former US president Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, received millions from the late Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Saud.
“And when King Salman visited Indonesia recently, he also gave millions worth of gifts. So some of these monarchs in certain countries, it’s part of their culture to give costly items.
“For example, items given to me by these monarchs, I have not used them. I have kept them because I don’t use very expensive things as my friends know. I don’t use any watches that contain valuable stones,” he added.
When asked to elaborate on his statement that it is not illegal to receive such gifts, Najib said it is not illegal if the gifts are “given to you by other heads of state, like on occasions like your birthday, and not expecting anything in return…”.
Najib also pointed out that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had gone on the record about receiving 40 horses from his friends.
“I am sure there are other gifts he received as well throughout his career,” he added.
Najib brought up how he was close with the late king Abdullah, who had bestowed him with Saudi Arabia’s highest honour, which is normally reserved for the nation’s closest allies, which include former US president Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Najib said he had planned to include these gifts in his museum cum gallery at some point of time. He added that Dr Mahathir’s museums in Langkawi had 9,000 items.
“That was my intention. You know, put them in an exhibit, because really… those things… I have never used.
“I know some expensive rings were given, but I have never used them because I know they were expensive.
“And I know, as a leader, I shouldn’t use them and they will not be used and they will be part of the galleria one day that will be shown,” he added.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the police disclosed that the cash and items seized from the residences linked to Najib amounted to between RM900mil and RM1.1bil.
They include more than 12,000 pieces of jewellery – comprising 2,200 rings, 1,400 necklaces, 2,100 bracelets, 2,800 pairs of earrings,1,600 brooches and 14 tiaras.
The most expensive item was a necklace that had a value of at least RM6mil, said Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Amar Singh,
Other items seized include 423 watches worth RM78mil and 567 handbags made up of 37 luxury brands, with an estimated value of RM51.3mil. – ANN
MALAY MAIL / ANN
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