The CIMB chairman also did not think the matter would garner controversy in any way.
“But I accept that, given the scrutiny and interest in this current controversy, that I’m being scrutinised,” the daily quoted Nazir as saying.
He was commenting on news reports that he had received the USD7 million, which he said was then disbursed by CIMB bank staff to ruling-party politicians according to the instructions of party leaders, whom he did not name.
Nazir also denied doing anything wrong, pointing out he never used the banks’s resources or got the staff to do “anything unusual”.
He also said that whatever was given to him “was given out”.
“Where is the wrong here? That’s the fundamental question,” Edge Financial Daily reported him as saying.
Nazir also reiterated that he was in the dark as to where the funds were sourced from but believed it originated from Malaysian companies and individuals.
At that time, he explained, there was no 1MDB story and that it was normal during the run-up to elections for political parties to obtain contributions or donations.
“I was aware because friends would call me and say they wanted to donate to the campaign.”