Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today slammed top anti-graft figures who criticised the government at the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference, claiming that they were "possessed" ( dirasuk ).

He told journalists in Putrajaya that the international anti-graft activists were "possessed" by third parties in a bid to wreck the nation.

"They were probably possessed by third parties that want to spread (anti-government) propaganda like I mentioned before; this (appear) to be the time for slander," he said, without elaborating who the "third parties" were.

The three-day IACC which concluded yesterday had left Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak red-faced as several top international NGOs questioned the RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts.

Tengku Adnan added that it was unbecoming for guests to be criticising their host.

"I regret what happened, more so when they are guests in this country.

"They should not have behaved so. We were having a meet for discussion, it was not a platform to express things that would worsen the situation in the country," he said.

On Wednesday, Transparency International president Jose Ugaz said during the opening of the IACC on Wednesday that Malaysia was facing a " corruption crisis ".

"We want to see more progress but that cannot happen while there are unanswered questions about the US$700 million that made its way into the prime minister’s personal bank account," he had said.

On Thursday, IACC council member Michael Hershman also took aim at Najib, albeit diplomatically, telling the prime minister that he cannot cover up the scandal.

“My advice to the Malaysian prime minister would be not to cover up, not to obstruct justice because it doesn’t work.

“Tell the truth. Where did the money come from? What was its intended use and if he did something wrong, ask for forgiveness and face the consequences," he said.

‘Grand corruption’

The torrent of criticism continued yesterday, with Amnesty International secretary-general Salil Shetty asking if the RM2.6 billion in Najib’s personal bank accounts was " grand corruption ".

Joining the fray was Transparency International managing director Cobus De Swardt who warned that without proper explanations , "suspicion of corruption, mistrust, and appearance of being above the law will prevail".

UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) coalition chairperson Manzoor Hasan also advised Najib to step down pending investigations.

Transparency International vice-president Elena Panfilova ended the conference by reiterating that Najib had to give answers on the scandal.