(July 3): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been urged to immediately freeze the bank accounts of Datuk Seri Najib Razak amid claims that the prime minister had large sums of money credited to his personal accounts.

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said MACC should also launch a thorough investigation into the allegations that were highlighted by whistleblower site Sarawak Report and business paper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) today.

"This is the time for MACC to act professionally, independently and impartially, and act according to its jurisdiction to probe the allegations, which is not only shocking but unprecedented in Malaysian history," C4 directors Cynthia Gabriel, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa and Richard Yeoh said in a joint statement.

"MACC can act to freeze Najib’s bank accounts pending probe according to Section 17(a) and 17(b) of the MACC Act 2009 and section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001."

The WSJ and Sarawak Report said today that investigations into the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), by Malaysian authorities, had allegedly uncovered billions of ringgit pumped into Najib's personal accounts.

Sarawak Report also said the attorney-general was also aware of the information.

Calling the damning allegation by both Sarawak Report and WSJ as "appalling", C4 said it was time that the MACC repeated its courageous act of freezing 375 accounts of companies and individuals who were linked to illegal timber logging in Sarawak.

"It is high time for MACC to repeat its courageous act as duty calls for the commission to act in the best interest of all Malaysians.

"Such serious allegations have raised questions about Najib’s integrity and credibility several notches higher as the PM has been mired in several other scandals as well," they said.

Najib, who is also finance minister and chairs 1MDB's advisory board, has come under severe criticism in recent months over a myriad issues, including that of 1MDB which has amassed RM42 billion in debts after just six years of it being set up.

C4 warned the prime minister that there were one too many scandals involving him, but said if indeed the documents quoted were indeed tampered with to sabotage him, then action must be taken against the culprits.

"But until Najib and the Malaysian government comes clean about 1MDB's unaccounted RM42 billion in debts, these shameful allegations continue to undermine the country's reputation in the eyes of the world.

"We call for Najib to relinquish his positions as finance minister and prime minister, while investigations are ongoing, to ensure no executive interference," it added. – The Malaysian Insider