05 December 2015•Update: 05 December 2015
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was questioned Saturday by the country's anti-graft agency on the $700 million (2.67 billion Ringgit) found in his personal bank accounts which he has claimed was a political donation.
The session lasted for 2-1/2 hours at his office in administrative capital, Putrajaya.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also queried Razak on debt-ridden state firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and its controversial subsidiary SRC International Sendirian Berhad.
Reports have suggested that the $700 million was not a donation, but was syphoned from the state firm.
In a short statement, the commission said Razak was cooperative with investigators and extended necessary explanations to enquiries.
"The prime minister has given good cooperation to the MACC. We will inform on further developments from time to time," it added.
The Attorney General and the Conference of Rulers had encouraged the commission to question Razak as soon as possible, in an effort to bring to a close any accusation of impropriety involving the money.
The suggestion has led to nationwide civilian protests demanding his resignation, demands for an explanation, and the money's alleged ties to 1MDB, which has amassed debt of 42 billion Ringgit in its six years of operations.
Early July, international press reports had claimed that billions of Ringgit was channelled from into 1MDB's accounts to those belonging to Razak.
The Wall Street Journal and whistle blower site Sarawak Report released reports quoting documents from the ongoing 1MDB probe claiming the money moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB before finally ending up in the prime minister's personal accounts in five separate deposits.
Razak has stated that he did not swindle funds for personal gain as alleged by political opponents, be it from 1MDB, Finance Ministry-owned SRC International or other entities.
One month later, the Attorney-General Chambers claimed that the funds were political donations to the Razak-led United Malays National Organisation for the party for the May 2013 election.
Politicians within UMNO later clarified that the funds came from "Middle East Royals" who wanted UMNO to retain power.
Razak, however, has been silent on the matter, citing political donations are confidential, and saying that he will only reveal the donors if opposition parties follow suit.
