MCA should come clean on the “ill-gotten” gains it received from Barisan Nasional and return the RM16.5 million it allegedly received from former prime minister Najib Razak, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Don’t hide and don’t run. You cannot cover it up. So, just return RM16.5 million to 1MDB,” said Lim after handing over RM25 million to religious schools (sekolah pondok) today.

MCA president Dr Wee Ka Siong recently told the MCA-owned newspaper The Star that he was unaware his party received money from state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd, which Najib oversaw.

“As far as I’m concerned, since the day I became deputy president of MCA on December 21, 2013, there is not a single sen received. Before that, I was not privy to such information,” Wee told The Star.

Former president Dr Chua Soi Lek said in his memoir that the party received RM16.5 million from Najib prior to the 2013 general election.

“If you are the MCA president and your source of funds is doubtful and disputed, you have to check and be accountable for it,” Lim said.

“On behalf of MOF and 1MDB, I’m asking MCA to return the RM16.5 million. So, too, the other political parties and we know who they are, return the money to 1MDB.

“Wee cannot wash his hands of it just as the government cannot refuse to pay back the RM19 billion in GST (goods and services tax) refunds to companies.”

If MCA claims to have learnt its lesson, it should come clean on this and take responsibility for receiving “ill-gotten” gains, he said.

Lim, however, said Putrajaya would not be pursuing MCA over the funds as it has other priorities for now.

“We are working downwards and starting with the billions and hundreds of millions first.

“We need to take action on the big-sum items.” – January 8, 2019.