KUALA LUMPUR: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation ‘Four Corners’ report confirmed that the funds deposited into the account of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak were a donation from the Saudi royal family, said a Malaysian government spokesperson.
The spokesperson also said a leaked letter from Saudi Arabia stated that the donation was a gift to Najib for promoting moderate Islam and combating terrorism and extremism – such as by launching his Global Movement of the Moderates.
“The letter makes clear that the gift was to be used as the prime minister saw fit, would be transferred directly or through the donor’s companies, and no benefit was expected in return,” the spokesperson said in a statement yesterday.
The spokesperson said the Four Corners report confirmed what the prime minister had maintained all along and what multiple lawful authorities concluded after exhaustive investigations.
“The investigations included forensic examination of every wire transfer. Malaysian authorities also travelled to Saudi Arabia to examine documentation and interview members of the royal family, and the officials that administered the donation,” the spokesperson said. — Bernama