Did Najib Razak use Saudi funds for GE13 campaign?

Question

Accepted Answer

Najib Razak Denies Using Saudi Funds for Vote Buying in GE13

Datuk Seri Najib Razak stated in court that he did not utilise the RM2.6 billion (US$620 million) allegedly donated by the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for vote buying in the 2013 general elections. He explained that the funds were intended as a donation for his election campaign to ensure his neutrality by preventing him from owing favours to any Malaysian individuals or corporate entities. Najib further elaborated that he decided to return the substantial sum after the election due to personal discomfort and a desire to avoid potential confidentiality issues and misconceptions.
Purpose of the Donation

Najib asserted that the RM2.6 billion donation from King Abdullah was specifically earmarked for his election campaign. The primary objective, as stated in court, was to ensure the continuity of the government and to maintain his neutrality. By accepting a donation directly from a foreign government, he aimed to avoid any obligations to local donors, thereby securing his independence in decision-making.
Rationale for Returning the Funds

Following the conclusion of the 2013 general elections, Najib expressed discomfort with the large sum of money remaining in his account. He indicated that a "good and sincere gesture" was to return the funds to the donor. This decision was also influenced by his close relationship with King Abdullah and a desire to circumvent potential confidentiality problems and sensitivities that could arise from such a significant amount of money being held in his accounts.
Definition and Denial of Vote Buying

When questioned by his lead counsel, Najib explicitly denied condoning vote buying. He defined vote buying as the direct act of giving money to voters to solicit their votes for a particular party. He maintained that the utilisation of the funds was not for such purposes, but rather to support the significant requirements of a normal election run-up for a large party like Barisan Nasional, enabling him to be independent of other potential donors.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Did Najib Razak use Saudi funds for GE13 campaign?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends