FUNDING for all Umno divisions will be reinstated, Umno interim president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said ahead of party elections for top posts this Saturday.

He said a party circular issued on May 22 directing divisions to run activities using their own funds was no longer valid as the party will make funds available again.

“We found out that some divisions and branches do not have a solid financial footing, and therefore the party headquarters has to be responsible and reinstate the funding.

“The funds will be used to pay costs like administration, salaries and activities, like previously,” the former deputy prime minister said after hosting a Hari Raya function with Sabah Umno in Kota Kinabalu, today.

Zahid, who is running for the president’s post in a five-cornered fight, said funding had been given to Umno branches from the time of former president Najib Razak and will continue under him (Zahid) as the party’s acting president.

Zahid took on the duties of the president after Najib stepped down following Barisan Nasional’s defeat at the May 9 general election.

On the cash seized from the properties linked to Najib as announced by police today, Zahid said he would leave it to the police to deal with the matter when asked if Umno would claim the money.

Police today announced RM1.1 billion worth of items and cash seized in raids conducted as part of investigations into 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Of this, RM116.7 million was cash in 26 currencies.

Previously, when police announced an earlier tally of RM114 million in cash seized, Umno’s Strategic Communications Unit said the money was the party’s and had been meant for the general election.

But police said to date, no one from Umno had stepped forward to claim it. – June 27, 2018