Govt has moral duty to audit Umno’s RM50mil Najib fund, says Kadir Jasin

Veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin has argued that the Malaysian government has a moral responsibility to investigate the funding behind Umno's RM50 million settlement for former Prime Minister Najib Razak's court fine. Speaking on Facebook, Kadir emphasized that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), police, Inland Revenue Board, and Bank Negara Malaysia should trace the origin of the funds, regardless of the contributors involved.

He acknowledged that the substantial sum merits scrutiny, questioning whether any contributions may have originated from individuals or enterprises tied to government contracts. Kadir also noted that while some projects benefited from these contributions, the likelihood of corruption remains a concern. In a related development, Kampar MP Chong Zhemin suggested that Umno should confirm or refute claims linking road project contractors to the fund, while former Damansara MP Tony Pua had previously urged BNM and MACC to audit the money to ensure its legitimacy and prevent laundering.

However, Walter Sandosam, a former MACC oversight panel member, contended that no laws mandate the auditing of donations, deeming Umno's initiative a private and personal matter. Despite this, Khalid Ahmad, former president of ACCA Malaysia Advisory Committee, defended the practice of collecting donations, provided they stem from lawful sources, and stated that banks and authorities have tools under anti-money laundering regulations to trace funds if necessary.