Najib: I never asked Pak Lah about political funding

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he had never questioned the prime minister about political funding when he was second in command, suggesting that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s departure was the reason for their recent fallout.

In an interview with The Star, he drew comparisons between his time as Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s deputy and the current controversy raised over a RM2.6 billion donation to Umno that was deposited in Najib’s accounts in 2013.

“I still enjoy a good relationship with Pak Lah. I never asked him about political funding when I was his deputy; that was the job of the party president since Tunku Abdul Rahman’s time,” Najib said, using Abdullah’s nickname.

“Muhyiddin doesn’t understand this special relationship. This is how we keep strong as a party.”

He said his relationship with Muhyiddin, who was removed as deputy prime minister but remains deputy president in Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), was “too formal” and that Muhyiddin felt he should have been “more involved”.

When asked about the RM2.6 billion that was deposited into his personal accounts, Najib, who is also the Umno and BN president, said Umno was not the only one that received such payments.

“If they like you and the relationship is personal, it happens. It is not on an institutional basis or party basis.

“It is personal, that’s why they insisted it should be personal to me,” he said, adding that although it went into his personal account, he did not use it for everyday expenses.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that is investigating the RM2.6 billion has met with both Najib and the as-yet-unnamed Middle Eastern donor.

Muhyiddin was removed from the Cabinet after he publicly questioned Najib’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the RM2.6 billion issues.