RM2.6b won’t make Malaysia beholden to Middle East donors, minister insists

(Malay Mail Online) – The RM2.6 billion donation Umno received from the Middle East will not influence the party or the government’s behaviour as the source country is not “much stronger” than Malaysia, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today.

The tourism and culture minister did not identify the country from which the donation originated, but said that it was on good terms with Malaysia and will not try to influence Putrajaya.

“No,” he said when asked if foreign powers could influence Malaysia now that the prime minister has accepted a donation from the Middle East.

“Because whatever nation gave to us is a friendly nation, a nation which is not that much stronger than us; like the US, then they can influence us, but this is just a brotherly nation who wants to see certain parties win in the general election because we are friendly to them.

“There’s nothing wrong (with the donation),” he said at the sidelines of the Declaration of National Heritage event at the National Museum today.