Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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PUTRAJAYA (July 3): Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has blamed an officer's mistake for the use of his family-run welfare foundation's funds to pay his and his wife's credit card bills.

Speaking to the press after seven hours of questioning at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here today, Zahid said he had reimbursed the amount using his own money in 2016.

According to news reports, RM800,000 had been misappropriated from the foundation to settle the credit card bills.

Zanid, however, claimed that he had asked his officer to pay the credit card bills using his personal cheque, but the officer "mistakenly" used funds from Yayasan Akal Budi to settle the debt.

"There was no intention to misappropriate the funds, but it was a mistake carried out by the officer. Because of that, I have used my own money to repay the amount," he said.

"There was no misappropriation. I have been transparent, and I have given my full cooperation. The MACC took my statement professionally," he said.

Zahid went on to say that he was the biggest contributor to the foundation, which was set up for charity purposes.

Zahid was also questioned at the MACC headquarters yesterday. He had his statement recorded by the anti-graft agency over a meeting he attended with representatives of the Saudi royal family which allegedly donated money to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

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