The authorities have been urged by Amanah national Youth wing to thoroughly investigate the bank accounts of all those alleged to have received illegal funds from 1MDB, including those of PAS leaders.

The wing's deputy chief Faiz Fadzil said such claims about PAS were recently revealed by Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar, who alleged that PAS has received RM1.5 million from Umno.

"Such funds can be considered illegal as these come from Umno, the account of which has been frozen for alleged violation of the anti-money laundering law," Faiz said in a statement today.

"The large sum of money allegedly given to PAS raises reasonable questions about the source of Umno's money.

"Besides, according to Section 44 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, PAS bank accounts can also be frozen to assist in the probe," the Permatang Pasir assemblyperson added.

Faiz was referring to Umno veep Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement on the freezing of the party's bank account due to alleged money laundering activities linked to the MACC investigation into the 1MDB scandal.

'Umno's money is clean'

However, Zahid has insisted that Umno's money is "clean and not laundered".

The New Straits Times had also quoted highly-placed sources saying that about 900 accounts which were allegedly linked to 1MDB, including Umno's, were frozen.

According to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, it is an offence to receive illegal funds and the authorities can freeze any account alleged to be involved in such activities.

Faiz said PAS research director Zuhdi Marzuki's (photo) response to the statement that the money (RM1.5 million from Umno) was a "donation" opens a window for investigations against PAS.

Donations, he noted, are deemed as to be bribes, according to Section 3 of the 2009 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

"The friendliness of PAS leaders with Umno and their defence of former prime minister Najib Razak in the 1MDB scandal before the 14th general election raises many suspicions that PAS' bank accounts must be probed," said the lawyer, who is the son of the late PAS president Fadzil Noor.

"No one should escape from being probed in the mega-scandal involving 1MDB because the amount of money stolen is massive and disgusting," he added.

Faiz was referring to the items valued at RM1 billion that were seized from residences linked to Najib as part the ongoing probe into the 1MDB scandal.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing and has said the items, which included cash in several currencies, expensive branded watches, tiaras and handbags, were gifts during his tenure as PM from 2009 to April 2018.

He also said it was necessary to hold funds for impending general elections.