PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak today insisted that he has been telling the truth about the RM2.6 billion donation from the Saudi royal family.
In a Facebook live session this evening, Najib said in an 11-minute video that the issue had been manipulated to the point that it became one of the factors which led to the defeat of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election (GE14).
“I wish to state here that I never lied on the issue of the RM2.6 billion donation,” he said.
Najib then explained again about his close ties with the late King Abdullah.
He said he also received the highest award of the King of Saudi Arabia, which had been similarly bestowed on former US president Barack Obama and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Najib said he was the first Malaysian prime minister to receive it.
“During that time, the late King Abdullah had proposed to help me, where he agreed to give contributions so that the BN government would remain in power. This was aside from other contributions, as well as the additional haj quota which was already approved for Malaysia.
“This was his wish, so he then asked the Saudi crown prince and several officers to get in touch with my office,” he said.
The Pekan MP said each time the funds were channelled, the prince’s officers would send letters to him and his office. He stated that in the early stage, funds from King Abdullah came from the Saudi finance ministry and the crown prince.
“This also included the RM2.6 billion. It was sent to me along with letters which were signed by the crown prince.
“With those very same letters sent to explain the source of the funds, as soon as GE14 ended, all RM2.6 billion was returned to the sender,” he said.
Najib said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and his officers were aware of the acceptance and subsequent return of the funds, and at that point, no questions were raised by the central bank, nor the receiving bank, or the officers who handled his account.
“I took it that I had followed the rules, and this could not be disputed, because the relevant quarters did not indicate or raise the alarm on the funds received.
“I also wish to explain that all the funds I received before this was used for the GE, for politics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the welfare of the people. I have never used the funds received for my own personal use,” he said.
Najib also clarified comments he had made in an interview with Al-Jazeera, that he had not verified the donation he had received. He explained that the reply was in the context of how there were no red flags raised by the central bank, the recipient bank, or his officers.
“That was how I meant it. Unfortunately my answer was manipulated by certain quarters to give the wrong meaning,” he said.
Najib said he would never steal money that needs to be paid back, more so when the money had been deposited into the personal account handled by many officers.
“For sure it cannot be hidden from the officers, or go undetected by the authorities,” he said.
Najib said it had not been easy for him to explain as he had been charged in court, but he was confident that he had the complete details and witnesses who would explain the matter when the time comes.
“I have served in the government all these while. I served to the best of my abilities. I am confident and I believe what I have tried to dissect here will shed light on the funds I have received.
“I wish to firmly state that I am not a thief, a robber and a crook. Hopefully when the time comes, the truth will reveal itself, and all accusations will disappear.
“I hope the truth will surface, and God willing, I can clear my name,” he added.
Najib is facing criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering charges related to funds from SRC International, a subsidiary of 1MDB. - FMT
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