KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — The children of second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein today said he was a man of “utmost integrity”, and a frugal man.

In a joint statement, sons Datuk Johari Razak, Datuk Nizam Razak, Nazim Razak and Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said the whole family was “extremely concerned” over news reports that speculated over the origins and size of Razak’s supposed wealth.

“We wish to put on record that Tun Abdul Razak was a highly principled man, well known to all who knew him for his frugality and utmost integrity and any statement or inference to the contrary would be totally false and misleading to his memory and to his service and sacrifices for the nation. We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive.

“We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue,” the four said in the brief statement.

The family statement comes in the wake of a recent article in the New York Times speculating on the family's wealth.