‘Arab king and prince’ gave the RM2.6bn, says Umno man

Kepong division chief says money was because of Najib's anti-Jewish stance

KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno divisional leader said today that an “Arab king and prince” had donated the US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) in funds reportedly deposited in private bank accounts in the name of Umno president and prime minister Najib Razak.

Kepong Umno division chief Ridhuan Abdul Hamid said the money was meant to be a political donation for use in the 2013 general election.

He said the Arab family had made the donation “because of Najib’s anti-Jewish stance”, according to Malay Mail Online. “Because of that, the Arab king, Arab prince generously made the political donation for use during the 13th general election,” he was quoted as saying in a speech at the division’s delegates meeting.

News reports last month had linked the deposit to companies associated with the governent’s investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd which is under investigation after reports of its debts and dubious financial investments. However Najib said the money was a donation and the anti-corruption agency MACC said it had come from donors in the Middle East.

Yesterday, Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that he had met with representatives of the Middle Eastern donor’s family and was told that the money was to help keep Umno and the Barisan Nasional in power, as Malaysia was a Sunni country.