MALAYSIANS took to social media to express their disbelief and shock over the jaw-dropping numbers police revealed today on the value of items seized from residences linked to former prime minister Najib Razak.

Many questioned how the former Umno president and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, acquired such wealth, after Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh said the estimated total cost of all items seized, including jewellery, cash, handbags, and watches, stood between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion.  

@v_vivekkk tweeted: “RM900 million to RM1.1 billion found in his house. No explanation is justified, be it Umno money or wedding gifts. Now more than ever, institutional reforms are needed.

“Malaysia must ensure there will never, ever be another Najib Razak,” he said.  

Amar Singh today said the jewellery valuation of RM440 million was only for the materials and did not factor in workmanship, design, and other costs involved in sales, which would be 50% to 100% more.  

He said of the jewellery, the number of items alone was 12,000, including 14 tiaras, rings, diamonds, bangles, and earrings. Among the more expensive pieces was a RM6.4 million necklace with a white diamond.

Mathana Muhilan (@mathanamuhilan) tweeted: “The worth of jewellery alone is RM440 million, not including the cost of making them. It could cost more than RM700 million. Who the hell gave this insane amount of gifts to Rosmah?”

In a recent interview with Reuters, Najib, who is being investigated for money laundering, said the cash, handbags, and jewellery seized from his home and several premises were
“gifts to his wife and daughter” and had nothing to do with funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Today, police revealed that a total of RM116.7 million in cash was also seized following raids at premises linked to Najib, including his private residence at Jalan Langgak Duta and the condo units where his son and daughter lived at Pavilion Residences, as well as an empty unit at the same condominium.

The cash was found in 26 currencies and took three days to count with the help of 22 officers from Bank Negara Malaysia, using six counting machines.

“How greed can control humans,” Alzari Joey Mahshar (@pualdidan) tweeted.  

@KhabirM questioned the need to have so much jewellery.

“Damn Najib and his family. Damn to all of you who supported him and kept a blind eye to his corruption.”

Lawyer Art Harun (@art_harun) tweeted: “Would love to hear from KJ, Ku Li & Zahid about all those Umno derma (donations) that includes 880 million in market value worth of gold & diamonds whatnot found in Najib’s premises announced today. Wth…”

The lawyer was referring to the three Umno presidential candidates – Khairy Jamaluddin, Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah, and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno strategic communications unit said earlier this month that the seized money belonged to the party. Former Johor Baru MP Shahrir Samad was also quoted as saying that the huge amount of cash found in premises linked to Najib was needed to keep the election machinery running.

Facebook user Mohd Harith Abdullah sarcastically said, “LGE (Lim Guan Eng) talking in Mandarin is still a bigger problem in the nation though.”

He was referring to the flak Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng received recently for issuing a statement in Chinese.

“RM900million-RM1.1billion. You were a government servant, you were mandated to run this country. Some people cannot even afford a RM5 meal and you misappropriated your position for self-gain,” Sukhveer Singh said in a Facebook post.

“Why would anyone have this amount of luxury items?” Lynette Naisbitt asked on Facebook.

Fathol Zaman Bukhari said both Najib and Rosmah were a shame to the nation, religion, and the Malay community.  

Amar Singh said police will call in Najib and Rosmah for questioning as part of the investigations into the seizures of the cash and items. – June 27, 2018.