KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says Utusan Malaysia is always close to Umno's heart but laments its inability to help the newspaper.
In a Facebook posting, Najib said they were unable to help because Umno's accounts had been frozen after last year's general election by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Najib said if the funds are returned to them, they would help Utusan immediately.
However he claimed that PH would not help the newspaper, instead called for the public to help purchase copies of Utusan and Kosmo.
"Umno's GE14 funds totalling RM116 million had also been seized and frozen by the PH government.
"After a year of investigations, the government did not manage to prove that the money in Umno's accounts and Umno's GE14 funds were proceeds of illegal activity."
According to the law, the PH government should order for Umno's accounts to be returned if no criminal charges have been made in that one year, Najib said.
Claiming political oppression and to make things difficult for him and Umno, Najib said a civil suit was initiated so that the funds remain frozen.
This, he alleged has also resulted in Utusan becoming a victim.
Najib in his posting expressed his anger with the news that Utusan may cease publication this Wednesday.