Lim Chee Wee, who is part of the anti-graft commission's Operations Review Panel, says majority Malaysians regard the announcement to regulate political funds as the prime minister's attempt to divert attention from the RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts. – File pic, August 16, 2015.Datuk Seri Najib Razak's announcement of a national consultative committee on political funding is seen by a majority of Malaysians an attempt by the prime minister to shift the spotlight from the questionable RM2.6 billion found in his private accounts, said a member of the anti-graft oversight committee.
Lim Chee Wee, the Operations Review Panel member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said ordinarily such an announcement would be applauded.
"But extraordinarily, given the circumstances leading to Najib's announcement it is seen by a large majority of Malaysians as an insincere move to distract in a disingenuous manner the perceived wrong of the alleged donation," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Lim, a former Malaysian Bar president, said the critical action should be disclosure by Najib to both law enforcement and the public of the sources of funds and expenditure.
"The people are cynical and the explanation beggars belief," he added.
Najib on Friday said the national consultative committee on political funding would develop a plan to ensure transparency and governance over party funds.
He said it was a necessary move to ensure healthy politics, adding that he had mooted proposals to regulate political funding since 2009 but did not receive any response.
Sacked deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has also urged Najib to explain the whereabouts of the balance of the RM2.6 billion "donation".
Muhiyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, said the amount deposited into Najib's accounts was huge, and asked where the balance of the funds might be, since the two accounts at AmBank in Kuala Lumpur had been closed in 2013.
"What is the balance of the money when the account was closed? Because the amount was huge, and definitely there will be a balance.
"If there is any money left, where is it?" Muhiyiddin said when opening the Kemaman Umno divisional meeting in Terengganu on Friday.
Muhyiddin said he was unable to answer such questions and urged Najib to clear the air. – August 16, 2015.
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