The Malaysian Insight

THE allegations made by Sarawak Report that RM9.5 million was paid to a prominent lawyer from accounts under Prime Minister Najib Razak’s name, are meant to sow discord in the country, says former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan. 

“I suspect there are other motives or interests behind the publication of the report, which can bring chaos to the country,” Musa said today in Petaling Jaya when commenting on whether former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s suit to disqualify his sodomy conviction was related to the article.

On May 31, Sarawak Report had published an article titled “Najib Paid Anwar’s Prosecutor RM9.5 Million From 1MDB Slush Fund WHY?”.

In the article, it was alleged that Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah, who was the lead prosecutor in sodomy appeal, was the “biggest individual recipient of money from the slush fund accounts” that were under Najib’s name.

Sarawak Report alleged the RM5.2 million Shafee allegedly received in February 2014 came just a fortnight before the Appeal Court overturned an earlier acquittal of Anwar’s sodomy charge.

Shafee was appointed as the prosecutor during the appeal against the acquittal of the PKR de facto leader, who was on sodomy charges in 2014.

It was previously reported that the funds in Najib’s account had originated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary SRC International, which had taken a RM4 billion loan from civil service pension fund Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen (KWAP).

Musa had earlier disputed the article’s claims, saying  Najib’s accounts were closed in August 2013, making it impossible for Shafee to receive the monies in September 2013 and February 2014.

He said he was speaking as an ordinary citizen in search of the truth, and was not siding with any party or was paid by anybody.

“I am not in politics. I only want the truth to be out so that the people will not be confused by all this politicking.

“Malaysians are being pressured. They should not be be pressured into believing allegations that are not backed by proof.”

Musa also challenged those who are making the allegations to report these claims to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Previously, Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz had also dismissed the allegations made by Sarawak Report, saying that any payment to Shafee was irrelevant to the outcome of Anwar’s sodomy trial. – June 10, 2017.