Former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akthar Aziz has said she will issue a response to the allegation that she was aware of the RM2.6 billion in former premier Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank accounts.
“I’m not going to comment on that now because it’s a case...I cannot comment on that now. But at some point, you will get the comment,” she was quoted by Bernama as telling reporters at Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur today.
Last week, Najib, in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, claimed that Zeti was aware of the colossal sum transferred into his accounts ahead of the 13th general election.
He alleged that Zeti did not raise any questions or red flags about the transaction.
“If Bank Negara is in the know of these funds and they had an inkling or some knowledge that there could be some doubts about the source of the funds, I expected them to tell me.
“But nothing of that sort happened. So I assumed all along that it was fine,” he said.
Quizzed again if Zeti did not raise any red flags, Najib replied: “No there was no comeback from Bank Negara. I assumed everything was fine.”
Najib has maintained that the RM2.6 billion was a donation from a Saudi royal member but the US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that it originated from 1MDB.
Former Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director Puad Zarkashi also claimed that Zeti had knowledge about the RM2.6 billion during a meeting with Malaysian students in Canberra in 2016.
He told the students that Umno leaders met with Najib after the scandal erupted in 2015.
Puad said Najib admitted receiving the money and claimed he had discussed the matter with Zeti and even received the central bank's approval to bring in the money.
He added that the former premier also possessed Bank Negara's documents regarding the approval.
Zeti, who resigned in 2016 after serving as Bank Negara governor for 16 years, is now a member of the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), which was formed by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad last month.
She has also been appointed group chairperson of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Zeti had told him that the allegation was false when the pair met at a Hari Raya open house this morning.
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