Prime Minister Najib Razak: Saudi confirms cash gift

A Saudi Arabian minister has admitted his country donated money to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has faced calls to quit over millions of dollars found in his bank accounts, Malaysian state media reported Friday.

“We are aware of the donation and it is a genuine donation with nothing expected in return,” Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters on the sidelines of the 13th Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

“We are also fully aware that the attorney general of Malaysia has thoroughly investigated the matter and found no wrongdoing,” Bernama news agency quoted the Saudi minister as saying.

Adel did not specify the amount Saudi Arabia donated to Najib.

This was the first time a Saudi Arabia official has openly admitted giving the money to the Malaysian premier.

Najib has been facing persistent calls to resign over suspicions the 2.6 billion ringgit (673 million dollars) in his bank accounts came from the cash-strapped state investment fund.

The U.S. daily the Wall Street Journal reported in July about the millions of dollars in Najib’s private bank accounts, suggesting the money came from the beleaguered 1Malaysia Development Berhad, which amassed over 40 billion dollars debt since it was founded in 2009.

In January, the Malaysian Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali said the bulk of the money in Najib’s account – 2.08 billion ringgit – was a donation from the Saudi royal family.