Controversial Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos today made a donation in response to Bersatu leaders' recent fundraising drive for the party's 14th general election campaign.

Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Jamal noted that Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, president Muhyiddin Yassin and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir had launched the fundraising campaign with a call for donations to be deposited into its bank account.

"Recently we saw Mahathir, Mukhriz and Muhyiddin pleading to the people, appealing to Malaysians asking for donations to fund Bersatu's election campaign.

"Therefore, I as a Malaysian, felt compelled to donate to Bersatu with the total amount of US$1.8 billion," Jamal told reporters outside a CIMB branch at Putra World Trade Centre this morning after depositing his donation.

Read: Syed Saddiq thanks Jamal for RM7b ‘donation’

Jamal further urged Bersatu to close the bank account and stop burdening the people with their appeal for funds.

"I would like to tell Mahathir, Mukhriz, Muhyiddin... There is no more need for them to beg from ordinary Malaysians to donate to their party because today I have donated an amount, if converted to ringgit, it's about RM7 billion," he claimed.

Accompanied by his supporters, Jamal brought along a mock cheque stating an amount of US$1.8 billion made out in favour of "Parti Bunga Bersatu Malaysia."

He also showed a personal cheque for a purported sum of US$1.8 billion.

However, any actual amount deposited is unclear.

Jamal showed reporters a receipt for the cheque deposited into Bersatu's account, but obscured the amount printed on it.

Mahathir's critics have questioned Bersatu's fundraising drive as they claimed the personal wealth of its top leaders, accumulated through their years in office, would have been more than sufficient to fund the party's operations.