An Umno leader has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to sack the board members of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), claiming they were the ones privy to the movement of its funds.

Those who hold the top jobs in 1MDB are the ones who must be held accountable for how the funds are used, not Najib, Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee said today.

"I urge Prime Minister Najib and the government to sack the 1MDB board of directors and others who were privy to the movement of funds.

“He (Najib) does not receive a salary from 1MDB. The top guns in 1MDB are paid and owe an explanation to the rakyat,” Syed Ali ( right ) said.

1MDB has a three-tiered governance comprising a Senior Leadership Team, Board of Directors and a Board of Advisers.

The state investment arm is embroiled in a huge scandal involving debts worth RM42 billion.

‘Shirking of duty by top guns mind-boggling’

Among the allegations, one is that almost US$2 billion (RM7.15 billion) meant for the 1MDB-PetroSaudi joint venture company was instead banked into the account of Good Star Ltd, which is controlled by flamboyant billionaire Jho Low.

“This may be true. But what is mind-boggling is the shirking of duty by the top guns in 1MDB, who claim they were in the dark about the misappropriation of funds by Jho Low and his powerful backers.

“In this age of technology, nothing can be kept a secret. Especially not the movement of huge funds. So it’s totally unacceptable when the top guys in 1MDB feign ignorance to the billions of dollars that have vanished,” Syed Ali said

“Such claims do not hold water, are absolutely nonsensical and nothing but shadow play,” he added.

The 1MDB scandal has been used by critics, including former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, against Najib, with constant demands made that Najib explains how the company had accumulated such huge debts.