Government to answer for RM2.6 billion donation on Dec 3

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will answer all questions on the RM2.6 billion donation to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank account on Dec 3.

However, it is undecided whether Najib himself will take on the questions or will appoint a minister from the Prime Minister's Department.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the answers will be given during the question and answer session on Dec 3, also the last day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting for this term.

"The RM2.6 billion is raised in every question during debates. If the PM answers today, there will still be continuous questions," Azalina said.

"It is better to accumulate (the questions) and answer them all on the last day. Yet it is still the PM prerogative," she told reporters in Parliament today.

Azalina said if Najib is unable to attend Parliament sitting on that day then any one of the 11 ministers in his department will give the answers but refused to say which minister would be best to answer the questions on the donation.

She said the Standing Orders of Parliament does not stipulate that a question should be answered immediately.

"The ministers can decide when to answer the questions directed to them. That is how I interpret the Standing Orders," Azalina said.

Refuting claims and criticisms that she is seen "protecting" Najib from answering questions in Parliament, she said in a political setting, every MP has the responsibility to defend the leader of the majority.

"As MPs we would do what it takes to ensure that the current government remains the government of the day. It is my KPI," she said, adding that the Oppositions too stood up in defence of their colleagues in the Dewan.

On Oct 20, she had said in a parliamentary written reply said that Najib will answer all questions on theRM2.6 billion and the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fiasco at a date to be fixed later.

Various quarters especially the Oppositions have continuously pressured the government to state where the fund originated from and clarify Wall Street Journal's allegation that the funds came from 1MDB.

Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1604309