PETALING JAYA: The RM2.6bil donation allegedly received by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has nothing to do with the government of Saudi Arabia, says Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
According to Bernama, the Foreign Minister said this after he was informed over the matter by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Ahmed Al-Jubeir during the latter's visit to Wisma Putra in Putrajaya on Friday (Oct 26).
Touching on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and the RM2.6bil issue, Saifuddin said Adel ensured that the Saudi government would cooperate in the investigations regarding the two cases.
Saifuddin said Adel had earlier expressed the Saudi government's stand when they met at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
"He (Adel) stated that the donation had nothing to do with the Saudi government. Today, he reiterated it," Saifuddin said.
This differed in a statement Adel made in 2016 that the funds wired into Najib’s personal bank account were a “genuine” donation originating from Saudi Arabia.
In September, Najib was arrested in connection with the deposit of RM2.6bil of 1MDB funds into his personal account.
He was also summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday (Oct 24) over 1MDB's dealings with Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
Last week saw the former prime minister being called in twice to explain the payment of more than US$1.2bil (RM5.04bil) made to IPIC by 1MDB in a settlement over a US$6.5bil claim made by the former.
It is understood that Najib, who was chairman of 1MDB board of advisers, would be held liable for his role in the debt settlement.
Najib is already facing 32 charges ranging from corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
On Thursday (Oct 25), Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah pleaded not guilty to six charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM6.6bil.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/10/26/saudi-foreign-minister-our-govt-had-nothing-to-do-with-rm2-6-billion/
Najib just shot himself in the foot! Instead of repairing his image and trying to salvage some of his dented pride, he has basically done himself a huge disservice with this outburst!
Very un-statesman-like and ultra-defensive....tsk tsk tsk.
LMFAO Jib Kor is really down on his luck these days.
You are not being fair to me - Najib walks out of Al Jazeera interview
Former prime minister Najib Adul Razak walked out of an Al Jazeera interview after being asked to address a slew of allegations against him.
Interviewer Mary Ann Jolley had asked Najib to address various allegations, ranging from 1MDB, the pink diamond for his wife Rosmah Mansor to the murders of Altantuyaa Shaaribu, Hussain Najadi and Kevin Morais.
A visibly irritated Najib eventually asked Jolley to move on to questions about the economy, but when she did not, Najib stood up and threatened to walk out.
"Can we go to the economy? We have spent too much time, otherwise, I'm going to walk out – no more, no more, please no more.
"That's it, I'm done," he said as he stood up. "If you want to talk about the economy, I will sit down."
When Jolley insisted on continuing, Najib, who was standing, raised his voice and lashed out at her.
"Come on, you are not being fair to me... Look, I've done my part and I'm not going to stand anymore for this," he said.
Finally, Jolley agreed to talk about Najib's legacy and the former prime minister then took his seat again.
Najib then talked about the economic performance of Malaysia, but when asked what he thought about 1MDB "staining" his legacy, he said, "I wish there was no 1MDB issue."
When Jolley then asked about fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, Najib finally decided to walk. "Why are you coming back to Jho Low?" he said.
More at https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/449222