Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's refusing to issue an outright denial over allegations that almost US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) of 1MDB's fund was deposited into his private bank accounts is raising a red flag, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said today.
Lim pointed out that even though the media reported Najib denying the allegation made by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the prime minister skirted around the question of whether state funds had indeed entered his accounts.
"What Najib said last night was 'I have never taken funds for personal gain as alleged by my political opponents – whether from 1MDB, SRC International or other entities, as these companies have confirmed'.
"Why can't Najib just say 'yes' or “no” to the grave WSJ allegation that almost US$700 million was deposited into Najib's personal accounts before the 13th general election.
"Is Najib denying that the two deposits of US$620 million and US$61 million were deposited into his personal bank accounts in March 2013, or he is admitting that there were such deposits but he had never taken the funds for personal gain – whatever Najib's definition of 'personal gain' is," said Lim.
Lim ( photo ) said the absence of Najib's outright denial raises red flags and presumptions that are detrimental to Najib's innocence, probity and integrity.
"Najib should come out with a straightforward statement denying that there had been two deposits of US$620 million and US$61 million into his personal account in March 2013.
AG should explain
"Or everybody can only conclude that Najib could not deny such vast deposits into his personal bank accounts and the prime minister could only turn and twist about the use of the deposits concerned," he said.
Lim said attorney-general Gani Patail also owed Malaysians an explanation.
WSJ today defended its report, claiming that it was based on Malaysian government investigation papers which had been submitted to Gani and the government and were also sighted by Najib himself.
Lim addded that under the current circumstances, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Cabinet must also act by calling for an emergency meeting of Parliament next week.
"If Najib cannot secure a vote of confidence in the emergency meeting of Parliament, he should resign as prime minister," he said.
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