Will Umno get another huge donation to win in next polls, asks Dr Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir today asked Umno leaders where they would get another huge donation to win the next general election if they believed Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the RM2.6 billion from a Middle Eastern donor was to help the ruling coalition stay in power at the last polls. In his latest blog posting today, Malaysia's longest serving prime minister again rubbished the claims by Najib and his followers that the money was a "donation", noting that they have yet to even identify him. "Najib and his followers have always claimed that the RM2.6 billion is a donation. But they never introduced the donor, the source of his wealth, the form of the money, the banks involved in the transfers and other details," he said in the post. "Actually, this claim is nonsensical." Addressing Umno leaders, the former party president said that Najib had claimed that the RM2.6 billion he had received in his personal accounts was for the 13th General Election. "If it was for the party to buy nasi lemak or drinks or rent cars like before, this money is hundreds of times more than what is needed. "But if it was to bribe leaders and each Dewan Rakyat member with millions per person, and also to bribe officers to lie, then there is a huge possibility that the RM2.6 billion was needed," he added. He said if this was how Najib had won the last GE, Najib would then need more money to remain as prime minister for the next election. "Najib himself has said 'cash is king'. This is the king that Najib is worshipping," the retired statesman said. Najib has been under pressure over the RM2.6 billion donation after it was first reported as an inflow of funds to his personal bank accounts by The Wall Street Journal on July 2. The money was confirmed as a donation by MACC early last month, prompting questions by critics as to why Najib had not disclosed this earlier. After WSJ first reported its allegations last month, Najib initially denied taking funds from 1MDB for personal gain, but did not directly address the fund transfers. But after MACC's revelation, Najib immediately went into damage control, explaining to Umno members that the funds were solely for the party's interests. – September 1, 2015.