What Najib Razak should do to clear his name - CENBET

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak has been advised to consider going on leave, while a probe into possible misappropriation of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is carried out.

In a media statement today, Centre For A Better Tomorrow (CENBET) Co-President, Gan Ping Sieu says this would ensure that investigators are truly free and independent to find out the truth.

An inter-agency Special Task Force is currently investigating recent allegations made by The Wall Street Journal, of 1MDB funds supposedly being channeled into the Prime Minister's personal bank accounts.

Gan says taking leave of absence now would be part of good governance, which CENBET promotes.

“Taking leave is not an admission of guilt but demonstrates a conviction in the principle of integrity. Taking leave would allow the PM to focus on tackling this controversy and not be held back by attending to government duties. CENBET believes that no one is guilty until proven in a court of law,” he added.

Gan also urged Najib to initiate the following actions immediately, in order to clear his name:

• Instruct AmBank to set the record straight on alleged transactions involving the Prime Minister's account, as reported in The Wall Street Journal;
• Order Bank Negara to state whether or not it was aware of the alleged transaction, as the Central Bank would be alerted of any transfers of funds involving huge quantum;
• Instruct or urge 1MDB and AmBank to sue the Wall Street Journal for defamation

Gan says if the investigation clears Najib of any wrongdoings and the above steps reaffirm his innocence, he can return to office “with his head held much higher than when he took leave.”

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail today confirmed that two Ambank Islamic bank accounts under the Prime Minister's name were not among the six frozen.

He said this was because both accounts were closed much earlier, on August 30, 2013 and March 9, 2015.

On the two closed accounts, Abdul Gani said the Special Task Force had obtained bank documents related to them.

The inter-agency Special Task Force investigating allegations of funds transmitted to Najib’s personal bank accounts, on Monday ordered a freeze of six bank accounts related to the investigation.

The joint statement signed by Abdul Gani, Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief, Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, said the order to freeze the six accounts was issued on July 6.