Malaysia urged to investigate funds raised to pay Najib's fine

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Investigation into funds for Najib's fine

Highlights

Tony Pua urged Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to audit fund flows into Umno's donation account for Najib, highlighting the risk of money laundering.
Pua questioned Umno's decision to focus substantial funds on freeing Najib rather than helping ordinary Malaysians, adding a new political dimension.
Najib is currently in prison over the SRC International case, with an original sentence of 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine, as well as an additional 15-year prison sentence in the 1MDB case.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Calls for an audit of fund flows

The Edge Malaysia reported that Tony Pua, a longtime DAP leader and critic of Najib, said Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should audit the flow of money into Umno's donation account for Najib. In a Facebook post on Friday, he said an investigation was needed to ensure that all funds raised were legitimate and had not been laundered through the donation channel.

Pua also questioned Umno's priorities, saying the party had chosen to "free" Najib rather than use the large sum of money to help ordinary Malaysians. The statement adds a political dimension to the issue, alongside questions about financial compliance and enforcement.

Background on Najib's cases and political implications

Najib has been in prison since August 2022, after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

His original sentence was 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine, before it was reduced in 2024 by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Najib was later sentenced to a further 15 years in prison in December 2025 after being convicted of more serious offenses related to 1MDB, but he is appealing the decision. That sentence is scheduled to begin after he completes his SRC prison sentence in August 2028.

In our earlier report on the governance debate following the 1MDB scandal and SRC, we highlighted how failures in controls, audits and checks and balances fueled calls to strengthen board accountability, including concerns about political appointments at government-linked entities. We also discussed the need to strengthen whistleblower protections and calls for internal auditors to be more proactive in using data to identify risks early, rather than simply assessing failures after they have occurred.

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