GERAKAN has always funded its activities through an internally generated pool and supporters’ donations, said Dominic Lau.

The party vice-president today said Gerakan is not worried about being investigated for allegedly receiving 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds.

“We have always relied on our own funds, including rental from our party headquarters building and political donations.”

He said no Gerakan leader has ever been hauled up for graft while in government.

“We have nothing to hide, and the authorities are welcome to investigate us.”

Lau was responding to a Straits Times report that the Pakatan Harapan government is investigating the flow of funds into Barisan Nasional parties for possible links to the 1MDB scandal.

The report said investigations are being carried out under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and has extended to law firms with ties to the previous government.

Bank accounts alleged to contain funds from 1MDB could be frozen, pending investigation and trial, while MPs and assemblymen could face disqualification from office if found guilty, said the report, citing government officials and finance executives.

Government officials and bankers said any direct links between BN officials, who are also business nominees, with 1MDB-related funds could put these investment holdings at risk, and disrupt Umno and MCA’s bid to regroup after their May 9 bruising.

By-elections that may be called as a result of the disqualification of elected representatives found guilty of receiving 1MDB-linked funds could further decimate BN’s ranks in Parliament. It now holds 57 seats – Umno has 54, MCA (1) and MIC (2).

The authorities under the BN government had insisted that there was no wrongdoing in 1MDB, even though the firm, founded by Najib Razak in 2009 to strategically invest the nation’s wealth, is under investigation in several jurisdictions worldwide, including the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland.

In complaints filed in 2016 and last year, the US Department of Justice alleged that as much as US$4.5 billion (RM18 billion) had been misappropriated from the state investor, and used to line the pockets of high-ranking Malaysian officials and buy assets and luxury goods in the US.

There is also speculation that the flow of funds through 1MDB was used to fill BN’s war chest ahead of the 14th general election, which saw Najib and the BN camp he led ousted from power.

PH, under Dr Mahathir Mohamad – Najib’s former mentor – has vowed to track down those responsible for the 1MDB scandal, especially Najib confidant and financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low. – June 21, 2018.