Apropos reports about Saudi Foreign Minister’s statement that “funds wired into Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s personal bank account were a genuine donation originating from Saudi Arabia” as per Malaysian state radio. PM Najib faces graft allegations following $681 Million deposit in his personal account, which opposition alleges originated from state fund Malaysia Development Berhad. Donations worldwide are for charitable institutions and foundations involved in welfare of sick, deprived or most deprived sections of society and not to rich and powerful holding important constitutional post of PM, head of sensitive security agencies etc
It is an accepted ethic of governance that those holding public offices cannot receive any gifts from foreign governments or heads of state which can be retained by them and any such item must be deposited in national treasury. This become very controversial issue raising suspicions when such a gift is money that is deposited into personal bank account of a serving constitutional public office holder or a politician aspiring to hold such an office in future, or has held an office of importance in recent past. There are ethical issues involved because such generous gifts to individuals from foreign monarchs, governments and private corporations would qualify either as bribe or remuneration for services that are expected to be rendered by those receiving such generous gifts. Donations or grants from friendly foreign governments can only be deposited to national exchequer of recipient country and never deposited in any individual’s personal bank account. Such behavior is unethical, unconstitutional, and immoral. Under no circumstances is such a practice justified and any such irregularity disqualifies the recipient from holding any public office in developed civilized world where writ of law prevails.
A Chandio
Sukkur