(July 6): The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has written to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to seek clarification and a meeting over recent reports that some RM2.67 billion was credited into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal accounts.

In the letter addressed to BNM governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, C4 directors Cynthia Gabriel, Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa and Richard Yeoh expressed concern over the exposé by Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and other issues, including the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

"We are incredibly concerned that such movement of funds and of such mega magnitudes went unnoticed by BNM.

“After careful discussions in C4, we have decided to seek to clarify and discuss pertinent points with the bank," the letter dated today said.

"We would like to further implore if the bank was already aware and had financial intelligence authorities in foreign jurisdictions to bring to its attention, irregular or suspicious transactions made.

"And had adequately informed the relevant agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police of suspicious transactions, given their respective mandates, and if investigations were already under way, before the matter arrived at the public domain."

C4 also said that they would like to have a dialogue with BNM on laws that might have been breached, noting that BNM had stated previously that all investments exceeding RM50 million and offshore borrowings of more than RM100 million require their approval.

On Thursday, WSJ alleged that up to US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was transferred to Najib's personal accounts from state-owned funds from 2013 to 2015, just before the 13th general election.

Najib denied the allegations and pinned the blame for the latest report on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has in recent months called for Najib's resignation.

WSJ, however, are standing by the story, saying that the report was based on solid documentation proof.

A multi-agency task force has been set up to investigate the claims.

Najib's own ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, have urged him to take legal action against WSJ if the report is untrue.

Najib, who is also finance minister, is chairman of 1MDB's advisory board.

C4 had previously urged MACC to freeze the prime minister's bank accounts and launch a thorough investigation into the allegations that were highlighted in the report. – The Malaysian Insider