Anti-corruption NGO Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) has given CIMB Group Holdings chairperson Nazir Abdul Razak the thumbs up for going on leave pending an internal review on his role in the disbursement of US$7 million on behalf of his brother Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Nazir, at a press conference after CIMB Group's 59th AGM, confirmed that he was going on leave to facilitate the internal review.

TI-M president Akhbar Satar said Nazir's leave of absence would allow an independent review and is good governance.

"It is the right move and decision. The move is noble. Other Malaysians should (also) show such good example," Akhbar told Malaysiakini .

He said: "Good leaders must lead by example. By walking your talk, you become a person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing, but do another, they erode trust - a critical element of productive leadership.

"Leading is all about influence. How you present yourself in a leadership role affects your ability to successfully leverage authority and motivate others."

Akhbar ( photo ) said TI-M is impressed and looks up to Nazir's wise decisions to promote good governance and not effecting or influencing the investigations that are related to him.

"It is to enhance accountability and transparency to clear his involvement in the US$7 million that has been issued /transfered to the parties through him for the last general election."

However, Akhbar stopped short of urging Najib to follow his youngest brother's lead.

Nazir yesterday reiterated he regrets distributing the funds for his brother in 2013, ahead of the 13th general election.

'Just doing a favour'

He said it was the only time he has done so and that he was just doing a favour for Najib on request and was confident he did not break any law.

“Unless I am completely absent from CIMB, the bank cannot operate at its highest level of integrity,” Nazir told a press conference after the bank’s AGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

This comes after The Wall Street Journal reported that Najib made more than 500 payments from his accounts ahead of GE13, the bulk of them to political players.

One of the payments was to Nazir, who confirmed distributing it to politicians on his brother's instructions, believing it was part of funds he helped to raise from corporate figures for political campaigning.

"Tens of millions of dollars of such payments occurred ahead of the May 2013 elections, which Najib’s party risked losing for the first time since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957," WSJ reported.

It also said that some US$44 million from Najib’s accounts allegedly went to a company called Solar Shine Bhd, which the business paper claimed was used by the ruling party to distribute small handouts like food and stationery to voters around elections, quoting newspaper reports and a person familiar with the matter.

Other recipients included SUPP politicians, the financial daily reported last month.

Akhbar said Nazir has courageously taken the responsibility by walking the talk and that he believes Nazir would take full responsibility in handling the issues.

"TI-M hopes Nazir's actions will inspire and be an example for other leaders, especially all the lawmakers in Malaysia," he added.

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