Umno's Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had not informed the Supreme Council nor any state liaison committees of the RM2.6 billion donation. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 8, 2015.Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) were aware of the US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) deposited into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's private accounts in 2013, Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club (BNBBC) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said. He also insisted the funds were donations and not linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), and pointed to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation as well as the debt-laden state investment arm's previous denial as proof. "Of course BNM was aware and knew of the money's movement. LHDN certainly knew because the donor is not exempt from income tax, although the recipient is not taxed over the donation he receives," said Shahrir, according to BNBBC News. Shahrir said this in response to the 15 questions the Johor menteri besar's son, Akmal Saufi Mohamed Khaled, raised on the billions channelled into Najib's personal accounts in AmBank in early 2013, a few months before the 13th general election. Akmal Saufi had asked if Bank Negara governor and other officials knew about the movement of the RM2.6 billion into the country, and if LHDN was aware that Najib had received such a huge amount of money. The chairman of the security, law and integrity committee of Malaysia's youth Parliament had also asked whether a minister, deputy minister or prime minister could accept donations while holding public office. "Is a menteri besar prohibited from looking for political funding?" Shahrir said in response. The Johor Baru MP said the funds were for political purposes, but reiterated that the Umno supreme council and state liaison committees were not informed of the donation. He refused to answer Akmal Saufi's question on whether Umno would have known of the fund's existence if Najib had not eventually told them about it. He also did not reveal when Najib planned to inform the council of the donation. Shahrir added that there were no laws to compel a politician to disclose his political funds. "Since when must political funds and political donations be revealed to all quarters? However, this may change via laws requiring all political funds to be transparent. "Right now, such laws do not exist. I support creating laws for political funds in line with the transformation proposed under the government's transformation programme," said Shahrir. Allegations of RM2.6 billion in Najib's accounts first surfaced in a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on July 2, citing documents from Malaysian investigators. The WSJ said the source of the funds was unknown, but they had flowed through 1MDB-linked entities in various tranches, the largest of which – US$681 million – was channelled into Najib's accounts in March 2013, ahead of the general election in May that year. The prime minister denied taking 1MDB funds for personal use but did not directly address the fund transfers. The MACC has declared that the US$700 million which had been funnelled into Najib’s accounts was a donation and not money from 1MDB. The agency also confirmed that the donor is from the Middle East but did not name the source. However, it said it would be asking Najib to provide an explanation on the donation. – August 8, 2015.
Bank Negara Malaysia ( BNM ) is said to have known that Prime Minister Najib himself had deposited $ 2.6bn ( $ 700 m ) into his private account , according to the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club ( BNBBC ) , Tan Sri Shahrir Ahmad . He also denied comments by the Malaysian Anti - corruption Commission that the funds were in fact donations and not connected to 1Malaysia Development Bhd ( 1MDB ) ; however , no one will name the source ) . This follows allegations from the Wall Street Journal on 2nd July that he had channelled through 1MDB - linked entities into Najib 's accounts in March 2013 .