Nazri: RM2.6b Mid-East donation won’t influence us

“For those who say we will lose the election, wait for election first”.

He added that the opposition did not want to make the names of their donors public for fear that they (the donors) may shy away from donating to the party. “In the United States”, he said, “it is not wrong to accept political donations as long they come from registered donors”.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are free to carry out their responsibilities without interference, but they are not above the law said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

Malaysia’s Tourism Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz on Tuesday (Aug 11) defended Prime Minister Najib Razak, suggesting that “a brotherly nation” which wanted to see “certain parties win in the general elections” was behind the RM2.6 billion deposited into Mr Najib’s personal accounts in 2013.

“The donation was given to us by a friendly nation, a nation which is not much stronger than us”. How are you going to bring the money if you don’t open an account? “Not like the US that can influence us”, he said on whether Malaysia would come under the influence foreign power as a result of the donation.

“The (Middle-Eastern) country donated to us (Umno) because they are a friendly nation that is not strong”.

He said Najib was a victim of double standards employed by the opposition.

Referring to donations to political parties, Nazri said when he was the law minister there was a suggestion by the ruling government to make sure all donations were recorded and given to their respective headquarters, but the opposition objected. All political parties need donations if not how can they maintain to contest in elections?

“Compared to taking donations in cash or putting it in a Swiss Bank, this is more transparent”.

“The RM200,000 limit rule only applies to political campaigns from nomination day until election day”, he said.