MONEY ALREADY SPENT – HOW TO GIVE BACK: SIMPLETON OR NOT, MAT HASAN GIVES LAME EXCUSE FOR 1MDB CASH RECEIVED FROM NAJIB – YET INSISTS THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SEIZED IN MACC CUSTODY IS ‘CLEAN MONEY’

PETALING JAYA – The money Umno received from 1MDB has all been used up, and the funds currently forfeited by the Malaysian Anti-Commission Corruption should be returned as it is “clean party funds”, claims Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The Umno deputy president said that he was referring to funds belonging to national-level Umno and not state Umno liaisons and divisions. All of them were listed in the Government’s civil forfeiture suit to reclaim RM270mil in 1MDB funds from 41 parties and entities.

“I am speaking about the national party’s account. As for the other accounts of Umno divisions named in the list, the ones in charge of those would have to make their own arguments. I am speaking as the head of the national party,” said Tok Mat.

“The money that MACC froze in our accounts are not the funds which the national Umno received from 1MDB. That money (from 1MDB) has long been utilised.

“What MACC froze are actually clean party funds which we received from well-wishers and donors during the last general election … this is clean money and not 1MDB funds.

“We have already sent a letter to MACC, stating why the money should be returned to us,” said Mohamad, who is commonly known as Tok Mat.

He also said that and it was not right to state that the money had already been seized.

“They (MACC) froze the account more than three months ago and now it is forfeited. The case will go to court before the court decides whether the money should be seized. We will make our argument why the money should be returned to us,” he said.

Mohamad, who is also Rantau assemblyman, is currently heading Umno, while party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is on garden leave as he faces corruption charges.

MACC had listed the state Umno liaisons of Kelantan Selangor, Pahang, Kedah, Johor and Sabah, as well as Pekan Umno division as alleged recipients of RM212mil of the total of RM270mil 1MDB funds from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal account.

– ANN