Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said hopes the people are getting clearer on the 1MDB issue and will not be deceived by quarters who want to topple the prime minister.

She said the statement of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir yesterday that the donation to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak came from the country, showed what had been spun by the opposition and the Mahathir's declaration group were not true.

Azalina said earlier many disputed the statement of attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali that the donation came from Saudi Arabia and not from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Nonetheless, she said the Mahathir's declaration group continued to accuse the prime minister of being involved in abusing 1MDB funds.

"The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also proved the prime minister was not involved in any wrongdoings in the affairs of 1MDB. So who is lying all this while?" she said in statement today.

She said in March, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) also revealed a letter from the Saudi Arabian royal family which stated the donation was given as a present for Najib's efforts in promoting Islam as well as combating violence and extremism including launching the Global Moderation Movement.

The finding was, however, reported by The Wall Street Journal ( WSJ ) which continued to attack the prime minister, she said.

When speaking to Malaysian journalists in Istanbul today, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister was quoted as saying: "We are aware of the donation and it is really a contribution without expecting anything in return."

Apandi on Jan 26 had cleared Najib of any wrongdoings linked to the investigations on SRC International Sdn Bhd and RM2.6 billion donation which was channelled into the personal accounts of the prime minister.

- Bernama