Malaysian PM Najib Razak Campaign Fund: Saudi Arabian Grant Suspected Of Corruption Money

Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, who served as Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009-2018. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is not new to Malaysia's political map. He is like a savior who is able to bring change in the neighboring country. The pinnacle of being loved by scholars arrived. Najib was able to transform into Deputy Prime Minister (PM), then PM Malaysia.

One term of PM's position is in fact not enough for Najib. He chose to run again in the 2013 election. The result was brilliant. The voice of the Malaysian people made Najib win, even though it was full of controversy. The Malaysian side was shocked, not Najib admitted that Saudi Arabia was supporting his campaign funds. Is that right?

Entering the world of Malaysian politics is never easy. The complexity and variety of ethnic groups in Malaysia are the estuaries. However, the narrative did not become an obstacle for Najib. He became an example of a politician who was able to take full advantage of the influence of political dynasties.

A political dynasty initiated by his father, the 2nd former Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, who served from 1970-1976. Najib, who had just graduated from the Indonesian economy from Nottingham University, England, immediately stepped on the gas.

He began to solidify his steps to enter the political arena. Najib was able to win seats in Malaysian parliament when he was young, 23 years old. His political career was successful. He even served as a minister. From the minister for education to finance.

This existence made him look closely at accompanying Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Malaysia's new Deputy PM from 2004. The position was perpetuated with joy. However, Abdullah's power as Malaysian Prime Minister did not run smoothly.

He is faced with the fact of his failure to eradicate corruption in Malaysia. Other controversies continue to emerge. All the people and the opposition also wanted him to resign. Abdullah only carried out this demand in 2009.

Abdullah then appointed the Deputy PM, Najib Razak as his replacement. Najib did not refuse. He accepted it well. He then directed his leadership to two things. First, the prosperity of the people. Second, soaring economic growth.

The second principle is also an effort to move the country's economy and try to put it back on the basis of healthy and well established growth. Alhamdulillah, this desire has shown proud initial glory, if the impression of two packages of fiscal stimulation has triumphed in restoring the country's economic growth to positive growth," Najib explained in the book Jawapan Najib: Summarizing Overnight Issues, Conflicts Today, and Future Distribution (2010).

Living as Malaysian Prime Minister is not easy. Najib must continue to strive with the demands of the Malaysian people who want his country to be free from corruption. However, that desire is not easy. Najib continues to try.

Instead of choosing to resign or end his position, he instead wants to rise as PM for the second time. The election route is his option to perpetuate his dream of becoming Malaysian PM for the second time. All kinds of focus on the mind directed to the 2013 election. Even though people understand that political costs are not cheap.

Najib was not afraid. He became the most prepared Malaysian PM candidate. Bejibun campaign funds. Results brilliantly. Najib was re-elected as Malaysian Prime Minister for the second term. However, Najib's victory had to be paid dearly.

His leadership has been criticized here and there. Even the Najib campaign fund scandal in the 2013 election emerged. Najib's personal account - not Najib's account as PM - is suspected of getting suspicious money shipments.

The delivery of the money was perpetuated several times. From the end of March 2013 to early April 2013. The transaction totaled 680 million US dollars. That figure is quite large. Suspicion arose from here and there.

The former Attorney General, Gani Pactail, who was fired by Najib in 2015, revealed the same thing. People suspect that much of the proceeds from the corruption of the 1MDB State Investment Fund. The scandal brought a stir throughout Malaysia.

Najib didn't bother at first. He said the funds were grants from the Saudi Arabian government. The grant was given as an ajian so that Najib immediately broke the chain of the radical Islamic movement, Ikhwanul Muslimin in Malaysia.

However, the general public does not easily believe Najib's claims. Because, there is no official statement from Saudi Arabia to provide funds for Najib's political campaign. Instead, he believes that Najib has borrowed state money from 1MDB.

The campaign fund scandal was brought to court when Najib stepped down. He was charged with various crimes involving the 1MDB scandal. In total he faces 42 corruption and money laundering charges in 2018. Later, he was tried on seven counts in 2019.

The indictment was granted in 2020. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Even so, he remained free with guarantees until August 2022. Everything changed when further legal remedies were perpetuated by Najib.

Malaysia's high court actually released Najib because the prosecutor failed to prove his alleged corruption in 2023. Najib always dodged that the money he had was a grant from Saudi Arabia for the 2013 election campaign funds.

The purpose of the donation is simple, said the Saudi source, namely to help Najib and his coalition win the election. Then employ a strategic communication team with international experience, focus on the province of Sarawak, and fund social programs through party campaigns.

"But why should Saudi Arabia care about elections in non-Arab countries that are more than 6,000 km away? The answer, said the source, lies in their concern over the increasing power of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they consider a terrorist organization," Frank Gardner said in his BBC website entitled Sadi gift to Malaysia PM Najib Razak 'For Election Campaign' (2016).