If the RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's private bank accounts was intended for Umno, then why was the party's deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin in the dark about it?

This question was posed today by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli in response to BN strategic communication director Abdul Rahman Dahlan who reiterated in a television interview yesterday that the amount was a political donation.

The MACC announced on Monday that the RM2.6 billion was 'donations' and not funds from state-owned 1MDB. It did not provide further details.

In a leaked video, Muhyiddin said he had confronted Najib about the amount and was told the money originated from the Middle East.

Rafizi also criticised Rahman's justification that such a massive amount was needed to wrest back states controlled by the federal opposition in the last general election.

"If indeed RM2.6 billion was used for campaigning in the 13th general election, why did BN lose badly in the opposition strongholds of Selangor and Penang?

"If RM2.6 billion was distributed to the 1.7 million Selangor voters, each would have received RM1,500 and BN could have bought its victory in Selangor," Rafizi said in a statement.

Seats illegaly won

He also pointed out that even if half of the sum was used for the general election, it would have exceeded the allowed RM200,000 spending threshold for parliamentary seats, according to electoral laws.

"It would mean all BN candidates in the 13th general election had violated election laws and their seats were illegally won," he said.

The explanations given to date have been unsatisfactory and the ruling coalition must come clean on the matter, Rafizi added.