BANKER Nazir Razak today denied keeping even a sen of funds said to be from scandal-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), adding he will assist anti-graft authorities seeking to recover RM420 million from 80 individuals and groups.

Nazir confirmed his brother, former prime minister Najib Razak, had transferred RM25.7 million to an account under his name in 2013, funds that were then “disbursed in cash and in full to Najib’s representatives” for election campaign purposes.

“Not a sen was retained or used by me. I acted in good faith in order to oblige my brother’s request for assistance in the GE13 campaign, and back then, I was informed that the funds originated from legitimate political fund-raising and had no reason to think otherwise.

“I have been a vocal and frequent critic of 1MDB, and the idea that the funds that flowed through the account may have originated from 1MDB has been gut-wrenching for me,” he said in a statement today.

Nazir, who is former CIMB Group Holdings chairman, was named in a list of nine individuals and 71 entities issued notices in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) effort to recover 1MDB money.

Apart from Nazir, the other individuals named include property tycoon Lim Soon Peng, and Umno politicians Ahmad Maslan, Shahrir Abdul Samad and Hanafi Mamat.

Ahmad is a former deputy finance minister. Shahrir used to hold the trade portfolio, and was also Felda chairman until last year.

MACC chief Latheefa Koya told reporters in Putrajaya yesterday that the notices were issued to recover money believed to have been transferred to the 80 parties from an account belonging to  Najib.

Notices were also issued to Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and myPPP, which are still or were part of the then ruling Barisan Nasional.

Nazir, the youngest son of former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, took leave from all his banking posts when alleged links between 1MDB and Najib’s fund transfer surfaced in the media in April 2016.

“I took voluntary leave from my positions at CIMB in order for the boards of CIMB Group and CIMB Bank to conduct a full review of what transpired. They did so with the help of an accounting firm and a legal firm. I was subsequently cleared and invited back to the board.

“I intend to engage with the MACC to resolve this matter. I fully respect the work that they are doing to recover 1MDB funds, and will assist as best as I can.” – October 8, 2019.