Lim challenged the Saudi Arabian foreign minister to appear before parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to explain his about turn, contrasting the two different accounts given by the foreign minister, Adel Al-Jubeir, as reported in February and then this week.

In February, the New York Times reported that Al-Jubeir had said that he believed the money had come from a private Saudi citizen and was meant as an investment. He did not think it originated from the Saudi government.

This week, asked about the matter by Malaysian reporters at an Islamic conference in Istanbul, he said: “We are aware of the donation, and it is a genuine donation with nothing expected in return.” He also said that, on the part of the Saudi government, the matter was closed.

In a speech in Sibu this morning, Lim asked what had caused Al-Jubeir to change his mind. “Has he become a pawn in the second media scam of Najib’s media strategists?” Lim said.

He also questioned the amount involved, saying that the Wall Street Journal had revised the sum to RM4.2 billion.

Lim also asked whether Al-Jubeir could explain a transaction involving Malaysia’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd and a subsidiary company of the Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company.

“The question asked by discerning people in Malaysia and the world is whether Al-Jubeir is part of a new media scam in his sudden U-turn statement that the RM2.6 billion donation to Najib was completely above-board.

“How does Al-Jubeir know?” Lim said.

He said there was only one way for the Saudi foreign minister to establish the credibility and truth of his statement, which Lim said was to offer to come to Malaysia to testify before the Public Accounts Committee, bringing with him all available evidence.

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