I've never taken 1MDB funds for personal gains, Najib reiterates

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak reiterated today that he has never taken 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds for personal gains.

“The Wall Street Journal accusation was made with bad intention and supported by certain quarters in the country aimed to force me to relinquish my position as the Prime Minister and UMNO president,” he wrote on his blog today.

Najib said he had instructed his lawyers to send a letter to the WSJ for clarification before seeking legal action.

“As per my instruction, my lawyer has sought confirmation from the WSJ to state its stand over its report accusing me of misusing 1MDB’s funds amounting to USD700,” he said.

Last Friday, WSJ published a report claiming that almost US$700 million of 1MDB funds had been channelled to personal bank accounts of the prime minister.

On the same day, the Prime Minister's Office dismissed the WSJ report and said it was a political sabotage to topple a democratically-elected prime minister.

1MDB also stated that it had never channelled funds to Najib.

Najib said his lawyers will decide on the next steps after obtaining confirmation from the paper.

On Tuesday, a multi-agency task force probing the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds said six bank accounts related to the investigation have been frozen.

The joint statement signed by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, 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.