Nazir Razak’s admission to the Wall Street Journal that he was involved in the disbursement of funds prior to the 2013 General Election on behalf of his brother, Prime Minister Najib Razak, has left me bemused.

How does one champion reform having been part of the problem in the first place?

With this damning revelation, all the good vibes attributed to this highly-respected banker have evaporated.

All his comparisons of two prime ministers, past and present, father and son, have come to nought.

Every one of his proposals for transparency and accountability have rung hollow.

It does not matter that the sum which passed through his hands was a meagre US$7 million compared with the US$1 billion handled by the prime minister.

Neither does it matter that he did not take a single sen for himself.

Nazir’s explanation that he “believed” the money to have originated from donations received from Malaysian corporations and individuals and that he “had no knowledge whatsoever that these funds may have originated from any other source(s)” is unworthy of the prominent banker he is cast as.

Where was his due diligence on the subject?

Where was his moral compass?

Malaysians deserve a better answer.

Rahim Zainuddin is an FMT reader

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