PM Najib To Take Action On Allegation That He Took US$700 Mln In The Next Few Days

SEMENYIH (Selangor, Malaysia), July 6 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak said he will decide in the next few days on the form of action he will take concerning the allegation that about US$700 million had purportedly been channeled into his personal account. The prime minister said the matter had been referred to his team of lawyers for advice and the form of follow-up action in terms of the law and so on that could be taken within and outside the country. "Insya Allah (God willing), I will make a decision in the next few days on the follow-up action that I will take concerning this most malicious allegation. "I am referring to the malicious accusation that I had purportedly misappropriated (the funds) into my personal account," he said at a media conference in conjunction with the Iftar gathering between the people of Selangor with the Prime Minister at the Bandar Rinching Mosque, here Sunday. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal had published an article quoting an unnamed investigator, claiming almost US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) (a strategic development company, wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia) funds had been deposited in the Prime Minister’s personal accounts. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) claimed accusations that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Najib's personal account, was a political sabotage by his opponents to topple a democratically elected Prime Minister. The PMO said there was a concerted effort by a certain individual to undermine the credibility of the country's economy and to tarnish the image of the Prime Minister which can lead to his downfall. The 1MDB had also denied depositing money into Najib's account. -- BERNAMA