We were shocked by the news, says Selangor Umno

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Umno has been caught off guard with news that its bank account had been frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Its liaison committee deputy chairman, Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan, yesterday said he had not been officially informed of the matter.

“I came to know that the bank account had been frozen when I was asked to comment on the matter by reporters yesterday. We are shocked by this.

“We are wondering why this happened and whether we had committed any criminal offence, which had warranted the freeze by MACC.

“The bank account is used to conduct transactions to channel funds for party matters and its activities. The money is not used for illegal things.

“We have yet to decide on our next course of action. We will wait for our central leadership to advise us.”

While Selangor Umno has yet to get a detailed explanation on the freeze, Mat Nadzari hoped the action initiated by MACC was not done out of spite.

“I hope this is not to create a perception that Selangor Umno had been unethical or to defame us.

“I also hope that the freeze will be lifted soon. It is the end of the month and we need to settle rentals and pay salaries to our staff.”

Mat Nadzari was commenting on a statement issued by Umno presidential candidate Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that MACC had frozen its main account along with its Selangor chapter.

The accounts are among 900 that are traced to have links to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

In Kota Baru, Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad said the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) Special Task Force must investigate the account of every political partyto determine whether their resources were legal or otherwise.

He said as the agency that was given the responsible to handle the job, the task force must be fair in its investigation, including giving the order to freeze certain bank accounts of individuals and political parties.

“I believe every political party must be investigated fairly and not just focus solely on Umno.

“The people have given the mandate to the new government to rule this country and we want to see the government do something good for them.

“However, it seemed that the new government had used a certain enforcement institution as its instrument to take revenge or abuse their power,” said Alwi, who is the state Opposition leader.

The Kok Lanas BN assemblyman said he regretted that the account had been frozen without any notice.

In Johor Baru, Johor Umno chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the party would cooperate with MACC over the freezing of its accounts.

He, however, said the party was in the dark over why its accounts had been frozen.