Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was told that if he chose to attend the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), he would have to face tough questions from participants.

This was confirmed to Malaysiakini in an email from Transparency International which together with the IACC Council, are responsible for organising the high-profile IACC series.

However, the international graft buster stressed that it did not retract the invitation to Najib who was supposed to deliver the keynote speech.

"We did not cancel the prime minister's invitation. We advised that if he were to come to the conference he would be asked hard questions – i.e. the ones in the speech yesterday," it told Malaysiakini .

Yesterday, Transparency International president José Ugaz ( photo ) said Malaysia was facing a corruption crisis and urged Najib to come clean.

This is amid the controversy surrounding Najib where RM2.6 billion was deposited into his personal bank accounts.

Najib had denied taking public funds for personal gain while his supporters claim the massive deposits were "political donations".

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low claimed that he had advised Najib against coming to the IACC due to his "personal issues" and a possible hostile reception .

"As a minister, I have to advise him (Najib). We advised him in terms of security, and the atmosphere, and that it's best that I deliver the keynote address (instead)," he had said.

The three-day IACC conference concludes tomorrow.