A-G must clarify SRC fund transfer to Najib, says PKR MP

A PKR lawmaker today urged the attorney-general (A-G) to explain the money trail between SRC International and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, now that the firm has denied all knowledge of the funds transferred into the prime minister's accounts. Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said A-G Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali had already confirmed funds from the Finance Ministry-owned company were deposited into Najib's accounts during a press conference on January 26.  But Najib, who is also finance minister, today said SRC International did not know of any funds transferred to his own accounts. "The reply from the finance minister is shocking to say the least as it represents a blanket denial of the existence of the alleged transfer of RM42 million to the prime minister's personal bank accounts. "The blanket denial is also contrary to the A-G's official press statement on the SRC matter, where he acknowledged that the SRC transfer existed but that the prime minister is not to be charged," Wong Chen told reporters in Parliament today. He said the A-G, along with the auditor-general, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Bank Negara should clarify whether the money was transferred to Najib's accounts. "If all parties can attest that this transaction never happened, then I will be satisfied with the answer given by the minister of finance, who is also the prime minister. "If any of these four parties refutes the finance minister's blanket denial and confirms that such a transaction did happen, it proves the prime minister has lied to Parliament," said Wong Chen. Several documents the Attorney-General held during a press conference in January showed SRC International transferred RM170 million to Putra Perdana Construction between July 8 and August 8, 2014. Putra Perdana Construction, in turn, transferred RM34.99 million to Permai Binaraya, which transferred RM27 million to a private bank account ending with the number "880". Funds transferred to the "880" account were used to pay for Najib's Visa and MasterCard bills amounting to a total of RM3.2 million, according to Apandi's charts. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported last year that between December 2014 and February 2015, SRC International transferred RM50 million to its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari, which transferred the RM50 million to Ihsan Perdana. Ihsan Perdana was a private company set up to undertake corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for 1MDB. From Ihsan Perdana, RM42 million was transferred into Najib's accounts at AmBank in three deposits of RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million, said WSJ. On January 26, Apandi said Najib had not committed any wrongdoing after having examined the investigation papers involving SRC International and an alleged RM2.6 billion donation. This was because Najib was unaware SRC International had transferred money into his accounts, and was under the impression the funds were part of the donation he received from the Saudi royal family, he added. – March 9, 2016.]]>