Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi soon spent about nine hours today at the MACC headquarters to have his statements recorded in relations to funds linked to a welfare foundation owned by his family members.

Zahid, clad in an orange batik shirt, arrived at the building in Putrajaya about 9.50am in a black Vellfire and accompanied by a bodyguard. No lawyer was present. 

About five MACC personnel welcomed him at the entrance to the building.

Zahid waved and smiled to scores of reporters as he entered the building.

The graft-busters are investigating him over allegations that he abused funds from a welfare foundation he chairs, to pay credit card debts.

The Star reported that Zahid is suspected to have misused RM800,000 from the funds to pay credit cards debts belonging to him and his wife.

In a press conference at Umno headquarters yesterday, Zahid said he and his family had established the foundation for Islamic activities, such as building mosques, tahfiz schools, orphanages and other welfare activities, including coordinating donations.

"The funds in my family foundation were contributed by me and several friends who are also interested in doing good deeds," he had said.

The MACC is also expected to probe Zahid on his claim of meeting with the Saudi royal family regarding donations to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In 2015, Zahid claimed that he met the chief investment officer and wealth trustee of the Arab family, who he said was behind the RM2.6 billion transferred into Najib’s personal accounts.

Critics have since repeatedly urged him to reveal what transpired during this meeting but to no avail.