Wealth talk taints dad's name, say Najib's brothers

 

The four brothers of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today expressed concern over news reports regarding inheritance said to be from their father, Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

Speculation arose after the Prime Minister’s Office told the New York Times that Najib's lifestyle is not unusual "for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy (of) family assets".

In an unusual move, four of Najib's younger brothers issued a rare "private" statement late this evening expressing worry that the name of their father, who was known for his "frugality", could be tarnished by such talks of family assets.

"We are extremely concerned that some recent news ​articles and postings​ have given rise to speculation as to the nature and extent of the inheritance that our​ late​ father, Abdul ​R​azak​, ​had ​left​ behind.

"We wish to put on record that Abdul Razak (right) was a ​highly-principled man, well known to all ​who knew him ​for his frugality and utmost integrity​ and any statement or inference to the contrary would be totally false and misleading to his memory and to his service and sacrifices for the nation.​

"We take issue with anyone who taints his memory, whatever the motive. We would also like to add that our whole family is united on this issue," they said.

The short statement was sent by Najib’s youngest brother Nazir and signed by him, Johari, Nizam and Nazim. It is not clear who they were directed at when referring to those who taint their father's memory.

Nazir, who is CIMB chairperson in a commentary last year recalled how Abdul Razak lambasted his boys for asking him to build a swimming pool at the official residence.

Stressing Abdul Razak's care with the public purse, he wrote that their father was angry they expected him to use public funds for their pleasure.

Piles and piles of cash

The New York Times had contacted PMO on its report on fund manager Jho Low, and his links to the PM's family through Najib's stepson Riza Aziz.

The report also noted Najib and his family's allegedly lavish lifestyle, pointing to a series of photos of Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor with expensive handbags.

The NYT also claimed that it had obtained invoices and other documents amounting to "millions of dollars" in jewellery ordered for Rosmah in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009.

It also quoted Najib's former aide Ariff Sabri saying that Najib had kept “piles and piles” of cash stacked in his safe.

However, the PMO reportedly responded saying, "Neither any money spent on travel, jewellery purchases nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister's position, responsibilities, and legacy (of) family assets."