PM believes tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, working hand in glove with foreign nationals, is behind this latest lie

‘I have never taken funds for personal gain as alleged by political enemies’

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has denied ever taking money for personal gain.

“Let me be very clear: I have never taken funds for personal gain as alleged by my political opponents – whether from 1MDB, SRC International or other entities, as these companies have confirmed,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page last night.

Responding to the Wall Street Journal report claiming that US$ 700mil (RM2.6bil) was channelled into his personal accounts, Najib said the allegations were false and part of a campaign of political sabotage to topple him.

“At no point have those making these allegations offered any evidence.

“All we have heard is that these allegations are based on leaked documents and unnamed investigators.

“Not once has the source of these documents ever been shown, neither have the documents themselves been provided for verification by lawful authorities,” said Najib.

“As we now know, a number of the documents on which recent allegations have been based were reportedly doctored.

“The person who was leaking these documents is under investigation by authorities overseas for attempting to extort and blackmail his former employer.

“This says a lot about the reliability of the documents, and those who are using them to damage our government and our country,” he added.

Najib warned his critics to be prepared for consequences of their actions.

“Where appropriate, they will be met with the full force of the law.

“These gutter tactics – in some cases criminal – to overthrow the Government will fail,” he said.

Najib singled out former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, accusing him of working hand in glove with foreign nationals.

He said Dr Mahathir was behind “the latest lie”.

Najib claimed that he came under attack after refusing to give in to Dr Mahathir’s personal demands.

“I refused, because I do not believe it is right for Malaysia to be ruled by proxy,” he said.

Najib said that in recent months various allegations had been levelled against him and his family.

“Many (were) simply outrageous,” he said.

Najib said Dr Mahathir created a crisis when he recklessly claimed that RM42bil was missing from 1MDB, “when in fact these are audited debts backed by RM 51bil audited assets”.

He said it was a shame that such attacks were levelled at a time when Malaysia held the Asean chair and was on the verge of attaining developed nation status.

“I will stay focused on the work of nationbuilding for the people,” he said.