The $681m in the PM’s account is a personal donation from the Saudi royal family
Kuala Lampur: A scandal that had taken the political environment in the east-Asian nation by storm for the last two and half years has finally come to an end, with the Prime Minister of Malaysia being cleared off charges of corruption. Critics who first stirred up the case in the later months of 2013 had alleged that a massive money transfer into the PM’s account came from the state investment fund 1MDB. However, the Malaysian premier had always opposed the claims.
As investigations began, anti-corruption state officials had mentioned that the transfer was made from a foreign contributor. It was proven true at last, when the Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali commented in a press release on Tuesday that investigators had interviewed witnesses and that it has been discovered that the donation was made privately, after all, by the Saudi Arabian royal family between March and April, 2013. ” I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly,” ha stated. Moreover, he also confirmed that the money wasn’t utilised as a ‘reward’ for anything to be done by Mr. Najib in the capacity of a Prime Minister.
Despite the judgement, the people in Malaysia are still skeptical about the Prime Minister’s intentions in receiving such a huge amount privately. The Attorney-General claimed that $620m had been returned by the premier; but no explanation was provided for the remaining $61m, which was supposedly used for the General elections in 2013, where Umno, Razak’s party reclaimed office. However, Umno succeeded in the 2013 elections with very poor margins. At the same time, opposition party members accused the PM of buying support from the leadership with the money. Furthermore, what pushes Malaysians into their lack of faith in the ruling is that the Attorney-General is a recently appointed member, after the former AG was dismissed as a repercussion to the same scandal.
The ruling also included the dismissal of three linked cases, that cleared the PM of any criminal offences. At the end of a case that has left Malaysians baffled, authorities have assured that Mr. Najib Razak’s position in the government and in his party remains firm for now.
Source: BBC
Tags: KualaLampur Malaysia Najib Razak
