A PAS leader has asked if explaining away Prime Minister Najib Razak’s RM2.6 billion as a political donation to Umno was a “tactical mistake”.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in a statement today noted that it took the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) one month to respond to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) expose on July 3 that alleged the money had come from debt-ridden 1MDB.

“Till now, we have not heard Najib suing WSJ, although the tale of the RM2.6 billion has become an international talking point.

“Was this a terrible tactical mistake?

“Because it has caused Najib to be afraid to respond to the RM2.6 billion issue in an upfront manner, although he received fierce criticism from the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in our own grounds,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

He was pondering on reasons why Najib was “remaining mute” about the alleged donation that WSJ first leaked to have been deposited into his personal bank accounts.

After threatening to sue WSJ after the report was published, Najib has not taken any legal action till today.

Tuan Ibrahim was commenting on several theories he said were being “hotly commented upon”.

He said on the argument that the money was for Umno, then it was questionable why then deputy prime minister and party deputy Muhyiddin Yassin was unaware of it.

[More to follow]