PM Najib denies receiving RM42m into bank account: Lawyer

The lawyer for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday (Jan 21) that his client denied receiving RM42 million (US$9.5m) from SRC International into his personal bank account.

Based on a written statement in Mr Najib's defamation suit against former Trnasport Minister Ling Liong Sik, he had allegedly previously admitted to receiving the funds.

Mr Ling had accused Mr Najib of pocketing the money.

"He will not make any answer or any stance until the investigation is over. Nevertheless, for the purpose of a reply, my client denies the allegation of RM42 million from SRC has gone into his personal account," Hafarizam said.

"I can safely say that my client did not admit that he has accepted the 42 million. All he said, in reference to Ling Liong Sik's defence, which he has admitted, was that this matter is still under investigation," he said.

SRC International is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which is currently being investigated over its debt-ridden operations.

Outside court, Mr Najib’s lawyer Hafarizam also said he hopes all issues regarding an alleged RM2.6 billion deposited in his client's accounts were now put to rest.

This came after the civil court earlier struck out the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) bid to nullify the election results in 2013 over the RM2.6 billion so called "political funding".

The civil court ruled that it has no jurisdiction to hear the application and ordered the opposition PKR to pay costs. 

Last July, the Wall Street Journal reported that investigators probing the troubled 1MDB wealth fund had indicated a payment of nearly US$700 million had gone into Mr Najib’s bank account.

Mr Najib has always maintained his innocence, saying the funds were a political donation.

Hafarizam said he had not discussed with Mr Najib whether a legal case against the Wall Street Journal would proceed. "A decision will have to be made soon," he said.