KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The RM2.6 billion donation Umno received from the Middle East will not influence the party or the government’s behaviour as the source country is not “much stronger” than Malaysia, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today.
The tourism and culture minister did not identify the country from which the donation originated, but said that it was on good terms with Malaysia and will not try to influence Putrajaya.
“No,” he said when asked if foreign powers could influence Malaysia now that the prime minister has accepted a donation from the Middle East.
“Because whatever nation gave to us is a friendly nation, a nation which is not that much stronger than us; like the US, then they can influence us, but this is just a brotherly nation who wants to see certain parties win in the general election because we are friendly to them.
“There’s nothing wrong (with the donation),” he said at the sidelines of the Declaration of National Heritage event at the National Museum today.
The Umno Supreme Council member also said that political donations were nothing new, adding that opposition parties also accept donations just to be able to pay deposits to contest in elections.
“During elections parties have to produce millions to contest so if they say they don’t get donations how did they pay the RM3 million to RM4 million?
“So we shouldn’t assume this is out of the ordinary. All political parties need donations if not how can they maintain to contest in elections? Just the deposit is in the millions, what more campaigning,” he said.
Nazri also said that there should be legislation that makes declaring political donations mandatory, despite the resistance from opposition party.
“I definitely support and agree that like in US whoever give donations, it’s not wrong as long as you register.
“So now I support that we do have laws whoever donate must donate to the central party account and give your name,” he said.
Following the MACC declaring the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal account as a “donation”, and not channelled from 1MDB as previously alleged, Umno leaders have declared themselves open to revealing their political funding sources should the opposition do the same.
