Forfeiture suit not meant to bankrupt Umno, says Dr M

The government's civil forfeiture suit to reclaim RM212 million of 1MDB-related funds from Umno is not meant to bankrupt the party, says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the suit was merely an effort to recover funds stolen from 1MDB.

"What happened is that Umno took stolen money for its divisions, so they must pay back the money.

"The money must be paid back to the government as public funds were stolen by (former premier) Najib Razak.

"If they want to set up another (new) Umno, they can do it. But if they committed any wrongdoing, legal action must be taken," he said, adding that if the government wanted to make Umno bankrupt, it could have been done much earlier.

Instead, Mahathir said the government allowed Najib to "roam free" and use his "bossku" moniker after he was charged in court.

The prime minister was responding to criticism that the forfeiture suit initiated by the government via the MACC was meant to bankrupt Umno.

There are concerns over the fate of Umno and talk of setting up a new Umno has been gaining traction recently.

This was after concerns were raised about the possibility of Umno being deregistered after Pakatan Harapan Youth planned to file a complaint with the Registrar of Societies against Umno for receiving 1MDB funds.

Last Friday, the MACC announced it was seeking to seize RM270 million in funds linked to 1MDB.

This includes RM212 million to be seized from Umno divisions including Pekan.

Acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan later said that his party would challenge the forfeiture suits in court.

Johor Umno chief Hasni Mohammad, meanwhile, said that Umno is prepared to start anew or have its members join an existing party should it be dissolved.

 - Mkini