Najib: Political donation was proper

(The Star) – The RM40mil given to Sabah Umno was a political donation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Every political party has a right to receive political donations,” he said, adding that the political donation was done in a proper and acceptable manner.

Najib declined to reveal the source and added that the Opposition also received political donations.

“The Opposition also receives donations and they don’t disclose,” Najib said after chairing the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting.

A timber trader Michael Chia was detained in Hong Kong in 2008 with RM40mil reportedly meant for Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

The MACC began investigating the case soon after.

However, on Thursday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz had disclosed in Parliament that Musa and Chia had been cleared of corruption allegations.

“The funds were actually contributions made to Sabah Umno and not for the personal use of the Chief Minister,” Nazri had said.

On another matter, Najib said he had met currency speculator George Soros two years ago.

“I met Soros upon his request after he had met Tun Mahathir. It was merely a courtesy call.

“There was nothing untoward, nothing sinister and nothing to worry about,” said Najib.

The Prime Minister said nothing much was discussed and reiterated that it was merely a social call.

He said the crux of the matter should be what was discussed at the meeting and not that he had met Soros. “We did not discuss how to topple the government or to get funding,” said Najib.

Earlier at a press conference Najib said the Opposition often confused the people by giving opposing messages among themselves.

He cited the shadow Cabinet as an example and said there were so many contradictory statements about it.

Najib explained that under the Westminster democracy system, the Opposition must form a shadow Cabinet.

He added that one of the purposes of forming a shadow Cabinet is to show the people if the Opposition team was capable or not.