MACC questions Zahid for almost 9 hours over 1MDB scandal

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for close to nine hours today in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal.
The newly-appointed Umno president said the questioning was mainly on his meeting with the Saudi Arabian royal family in 2015, whom the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government had claimed as having donated the questionable RM2.6 billion into Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's personal account.
Ahmad Zahid, who left the MACC building at 6.35pm today after the long probe, said investigators from the anti-graft agency were professional throughout the questioning, and that he was given breaks for prayers.
"The probe was on 1MDB, and mainly on my meeting with representatives of the Saudi royal family in 2015. It took quite some time because they wanted more details as all the information they received previously were through media reports.
"I have given my statement to the MACC on this 1MDB issue, and as far as I am concerned, this questioning is complete," he told reporters.
When asked who specifically from the Arab royalty he met back then, Ahmad Zahid said: "I'm not answerable to you, I'm only answerable to MACC."
Ahmad Zahid, who was performing his voluntary fasting (puasa sunat) today, said he was also confident that any doubts or perceptions that the public might have on the issue would be answered by MACC within a time-frame of the investigation.
The former deputy prime minister, in August 2015, said he had personally met the RM2.6 billion donor's representatives, and that he was told that Umno was not the only recipient of such political donations.
Ahmad Zahid had earlier arrived at the MACC headquarters at 9.52am in a black Vellfire and was greeted by MACC officers.
Donning a bright orange batik top and black pants, Ahmad Zahid appeared calm, smiling and waving to the media waiting at the building's entrance, as he walked in.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki, on Sunday, confirmed the anti-graft agency had contacted Ahmad Zahid on June 27 to ask that he appear at MACC to assist in investigations into two separate cases, the other being his alleged abuse of funds of a family-run foundation he chairs.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said he would be making another appearance at the agency's headquarters here tomorrow for questioning on the foundation, which he revealed was Yayasan Akal Budi.
He is believed to have abused over RM800,000 from the fund to settle his and his wife's credit card bills between 2014 and 2015.
The foundation, which was registered on March 3, 1997, is a private company conducting community welfare work, whose activities include receiving and administering funds for the eradication of poverty.