Tan Sri Apandi, the Saudi government just disputed your story – Sir Wenger J. Khairy

Two weeks ago, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali emphatically told a packed press conference that the RM 2.6 billion which was found in the prime minister’s accounts was a personal "donation from the Saudi royal family" and "was given to him without any due consideration". 

Ostentatiously, he was pictured clearing the prime minister of any wrongdoing while simultaneously waving the evidence showing millions of ringgit being moved into and out of accounts linked to the prime minister.

Today, the Saudi foreign minister, in diplomatic speak, just called that story a big bunch of untruths.

Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was quoted as saying, "It is a private Saudi citizen, I believe, and the funds went to an investment in Malaysia."

First untruth, Apandi said the funds were a donation. The Saudi foreign minister said it was an investment.

Second untruth, Apandi said the funds were from the Saudi royal family. The Saudi foreign minister said it was from a private citizen.

In the piece written by the New York Times, a member of the Royal family and a close associate confirmed that the money was sent by a Saudi prince and was part of a business deal.

The only person who fits this bill is Prince Turki – the same Prince Turki behind 1MDB.

The jigsaw fits very well and explains why in the comments on the SWIFT message used to transmit the funds, it was written “payment"  and not donation.

However, even though Prince Turki is a Saudi royal, that does not make him "Saudi royal family" – a term not to be used lightly by the attorney-general of an important bilateral partner. After all, I think there are about 20,000 people related to the House of Saud, the ruling Royal family.

The reason is that Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. For the attorney-general of a country to publicly say the donation came from the Saudi royal family is to imply that the $US700 million was an official government policy, and would imply involvement of the previous king of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah.

And that is why the Saudi foreign minister had to come out strongly and deny it.

Tan Sri Apandi – this is not a small matter.

You have basically affected government-to-government relations by involving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in what is a private "investment" between Prince Turki of Petrosaudi, and Prime Minister Najib of Pekan.

The Saudi government has given the equivalent of a diplomatic "slap-in-the-face". Remember, there was no need for them to comment, but they felt compelled to because this issue has been discussed at the highest levels of the Saudi government and they are "deeply displeased" about it.

However, that does not mean that there is any big change.

On Monday, Apandi will still be attorney-general. Prime Minister Najib of Pekan will still be prime minister. And the US$680 million, which the good Tan Sri says has been returned, but which some say contend is impounded, will remain impounded.

But the lies that have been spun will have to be re-spun to adjust to the new revelation. It may go on and on, to the extent that people would not even know what the current official lie to disbelieve is. 

Unfortunately, that is the plain truth of the matter.

* Sir Wenger J. Khairy reads The Malaysian Insider.