KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Any cash donation for Islam should have been banked directly into Putrajaya’s coffers instead of the private accounts of its prime minister, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) said today.

Its president Amidi Abdul Manan said he was sceptical of the assertion yesterday by Kuantan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Wan Adnan Wan Mamat that the controversial RM2.6 billion cash deposits into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts was a gesture of appreciation for Malaysia’s anti-terror campaign against militant group Islamic State (IS).

However, he said that even given the benefit of doubt, the money should be donated to the government and the Malaysian people as the fight against Islamic terrorism is done collectively.

“The donation should have been given to the government that represents the people and not to an individual named Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak personally.

“This is because each of the people who battle IS radicalism deserves the donation,” Amidi said in a statement.

Yesterday Wan Adnan was quoted as saying that the money came from Saudi Arabia and was a form of appreciation to Malaysia for “championing Islam” and fighting the IS.

“It was an appreciation to Malaysia for championing Islam and for practising Sunni Islam (Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah),” the Kuantan Umno division chief was quoted as saying.

He also claimed that the cash was donated as Riyadh’s appreciation of the Najib government’s battle against IS.

Amidi urged Najib to issue a statement to personally confirm the matter.

“ABIM wants the PM to issue a statement on the matter himself… such an attempt at explanation is an attempt to confuse the people and not at all giving any positive impact to the PM’s already worsening image”.