Guan Eng: Return funds received from 1MDB

BUTTERWORTH: Parties or individuals who have received money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) should return it to the Finance Ministry.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the ministry had set up a recovery account for the retrieved funds.

“Based on our information, there were many channels used (by 1MDB to buy support). It’s best to contact the Finance Ministry when returning the funds.

“Whether they are investigated or not depends on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, but returning the money would show their sincerity.

“The 1MDB scandal alone involved RM52 billion, including interest, (and) there are (money from) many others that need to be collected,” he said at the Bagan DAP service centre yesterday.

On Tuesday, Lim revealed that there were press associations in Penang which had received money from 1MDB.

He had said more than 41 people were on the Finance Ministry’s list of recipients of 1MDBrelated money.

Lim said three Chinese press associations had received RM50,000 each from 1MDB.

“(The associations are) the Penang Press Club, Penang Chinese Reporters and Photographers Association and Journalist Union of North Malaysia.

“Our record has their names and they did not deny receiving money from 1MDB.

“They also did not know the source of the money then, but now that they know, I think they should return it.”

He said one of the associations had admitted receiving the money and said it would return the money.

Meanwhile, Lim said the opposition was being absurd in asking the Finance Ministry to collect the 1MDB money from Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

“It is ridiculous to ask people who did not receive the money to return it.

“Tomorrow, they will say I received money from 1MDB... I had not received even one cent from 1MDB,” said Lim, referring to Gerakan president Dominic Lau’s comments.