KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Lim Kit Siang today dismissed an Umno man’s claim that the RM2.6 billion donation deposited into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s account had to do with Malaysia’s efforts in combating the Islamic State (IS), pointing out the prime minister had sung a different tune about the militant movement prior to this.

The DAP parliamentary leader reminded Kuantan Umno division chief Wan Adnan Wan Mamat that barely a year ago, Najib had urged party members to emulate the fighting spirit of IS militants who defeated the Iraqi army and sent their generals scurrying despite being outnumbered nearly 30 to 1.

Lim acknowledged that the prime minister had “tried to make amends” for the gaffe by later supporting the UN General Assembly resolution on September 24 last year denouncing IS, aside from tabling a white paper and parliamentary motion to condemn the militant group, but claimed that despite these moves, Najib remains the only world leader to have openly praised the IS.

“With this history and background, who will believe that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts in March 2014 was in appreciation of Malaysia’s combat against IS?” Lim said according to a copy of his speech at an event in Seremban last night.

Yesterday, Wan Adnan reportedly claimed that the donations made to Najib’s personal bank accounts originated from Saudi Arabia, in appreciation for Malaysia’s role in combating the IS.

Wan Adnan added that Najib told 146 division members this in a meeting last Wednesday, and that other countries had also received donations from Saudi Arabia.

Lim stressed that it would make no sense for Najib to have used the IS as an example of bravery at the Cheras Umno division 20^th anniversary dinner on June 24, 2014, if it were true that the donations made three months earlier in March had to do with Malaysia’s position against IS.

The Gelang Patah MP also said the prime minister does not have the moral clout to push for a National Consultative Council on political funding, until and unless he comes clean on the details surrounding the RM2.6 billion deposited into his private bank accounts.

“There is only one way for Najib re-gain moral authority on transparency, integrity and good governance principles  – and this is for him to  immediately give a full and satisfactory explanation about the twin scandals of the RM2.6 billion deposit into his personal bank accounts and about the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal,” Lim said.