Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been inspirational since he took office and lauded the new concept of 1Malaysia as well as the transformational agendas, the socio-economic policies such as BR1M, large investments in East Malaysia and other changes. He has earned a lot of respect and accolades for his progressive leadership.

When the 1MDB financial scandal was casting a lot of negative publicity on him, many right-thinking citizens gave the benefit of the doubt to the prime minister pending full investigations of 1MDB by the public accounts committee (PAC).

However, people had a shock when the premier revealed that the amount of RM2.6 billion held in his private account was given by a Middle Eastern donor. Malaysians now have to confront a  range of questions about this huge windfall.

People cannot believe that this amount came from a donor and that there is nothing more to it than the obvious. Like many of a similar mind, I would like to pose the following questions to allay speculation and suspicious

• Why did the donor out of the blue, give such a large princely sum?
• Was it a kind of kickback for the 1MDB investments?
• Why wasn’t this RM2.6 billion revealed before the Wall Street Journal ( WSJ ) expose?
• Was it a kind of money-laundering, considering the huge amount, knowing well that if the PM received the money it would become legal even though the foreign source could be otherwise?
• Is this large donation for party funds for the elections? Even the US electoral funds are not so huge. In Malaysia, election expenses need only a fraction of the RM2.6 billion as election expenditure is low as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) keeps a lid on corruption during the polls.
• This episode sets a negative precedent and in the future politicians, ministers, royalty, corporates and others could use this excuse to hoard money and keep away the MACC.
• The infusion of big donations could lead to dire consequences for the future of democracy and the country.
• Were the central banks of the donor and beneficiary countries informed of this huge cross-border transaction? The most important aspect of leadership is trust and your credible replies to your countrymen will affirm our faith in you to lead Malaysia by example.