MELAKA: Umno is prepared to disclose full details of its RM50 million fundraising campaign to pay the fine imposed on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The deputy prime minister said the party had complied with guidelines issued by the relevant authorities in collecting and managing the contributions.
“We are prepared to disclose all information on the funds collected to the relevant authorities because we obtained guidelines from them and fully complied with those requirements.
“The money was channelled through an account entrusted to Umno headquarters before being disbursed,” he told reporters at a press conference after attending a gathering with Melaka Community Development Department (Kemas) members today.
Zahid was responding to calls for the government and relevant authorities to investigate the source of the RM50 million raised to settle Najib’s fine.
He confirmed that the fundraising campaign organised by Umno headquarters had been closed after reaching its RM50 million target.
“The fund established by Umno headquarters was closed once the collection reached RM50 million.
“It was carried out through crowdfunding, with contributions coming not only from Umno members but also non-members, party branches, divisions and state liaison committees,” he said.
On Sept 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of the fine and compliance with other conditions.
On Friday, Umno announced that it had raised RM50 million through the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund to settle the fine imposed on Najib in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had previously said the payment had been completed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, after which the fundraising account was closed.
Former Damansara member of parliament Tony Pua, however, called on Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to audit the donation fund to ensure that the money raised was legitimate and had not been laundered.