Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak angers critics by calling for ‘accountability and transparency’ in political funding
Najib Razak is being scrutinised for nearly US$700 million that was deposited into his personal accounts.
Malaysia’s premier called on Friday for greater transparency in political funding, drawing immediate ridicule from critics who attacked his failure to explain massive transfers to his own bank accounts.
Najib Razak is under pressure over the discovery, first aired by a Wall Street Journal investigative report last month, that nearly US$700 million had been deposited into his personal accounts.
Najib, 62, initially rejected the allegation as “malicious” and part of a political conspiracy, but his government has since said he did receive political “donations” from overseas, while refusing to provide details.
On Friday, Najib lamented Malaysia’s lack of adequate regulations on political donations and election spending.
“Therefore, there is an urgent need to regulate political funding to ensure accountability and transparency in the interest of healthy political practices,” he said in a statement.
He said his government would form a committee “with the aim to formulate a political funding plan of integrity”.
He made no reference to the allegations against him. Detractors immediately pounced. Senior opposition figure Lim Kit Siang said Najib was trying to “run away” from explaining the US$700 million.