FORMER ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Hussein have denied Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Mohd Shukri Abdull’s claim that he had gone to see them about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd probe.

Zahid, who was deputy prime minister and home minister, said Shukri never met him to push then prime minister Najib Razak to resign over the scandal.

“That is beyond my knowledge. There was no meeting,” he told the media after chairing an Umno Supreme Council meeting at the party’s headquarters, Putra World Trade Centre, this evening.

Zahid has been taking on the duties of party president since Najib quit the post, following Barisan Nasional’s shocking defeat to Pakatan Harapan in the May 9 polls.

Najib also stepped down as the coalition’s chairman.

Zahid, who did not seem to take the question seriously, asked Umno vice-president Hishammuddin, who was seated next to him, whether he knew about the matter.

The former defence minister shook his head in response.

Earlier today, Shukri said he had tried years ago to tell those in power that the RM2.6 billion found in Najib’s bank account was money allegedly stolen from Malaysians.

Shukri, who was MACC deputy chief commissioner in charge of operations at the time, said he had gone to see ministers about having Najib replaced, and among those he met were Zahid and Hishammuddin.

He said he, along with then MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed, had told the ministers and the Conference of Rulers that claims of 1DMB funds being misappropriated could be proven.

“We split up to meet the ministers, begging them to have Najib replaced as prime minister… the amount is too large, RM2.6 billion.”

He said only three ministers had spoken out against Najib, while the Conference of Rulers refused to act.

“Only (former deputy prime minister) Muhyiddin Yassin, (former rural and regional development minister) Mohd Shafie Apdal and (former second finance minister) Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah. The rest were afraid.” – May 22, 2018.