Umno says money seized from Najib is party funds
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno wants police to return the money seized, as it is party funds.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is carrying out the duties of party president, said Umno badly needed the funds to rebuild the party post-14th General Election (GE14).
“Umno is seeking to recover these funds, and we request police to release and return them to the party after investigations are completed.
“Umno is rebuilding and the return of party funds will help in this process,” he said in a statement.
Zahid said it was unfortunate that the funds were seized by police while they were being transferred to Umno’s acting leadership after Datuk Seri Najib Razak resigned.
He said the party constitution allowed for Umno presidents to source and manage funds, including those to be used for a general election.
“Our former president had sourced the funds prior to GE14 and was managing them.
“However, the remainder of these funds were seized by police after Najib stepped down as Umno and Barisan Nasional president, before they could be transferred to the acting leadership.”
Zahid said when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down as Umno president, the latter had handed back RM1.2 billion to the party and its three million members.
It was reported that police had seized RM130 million in cash and about RM200 million in gems from premises linked to Najib.
The cash and jewellery were recovered following raids that were part of police’s investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.