(Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today he would leave it to the authorities to investigate allegations that non-governmental organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) receives foreign funding.

“Let the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) and the relevant authorities investigate (the matter),” he told reporters after launching the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) at Pudu Sentral, here. 

Preliminary investigation by CCM had revealed the existence of fund transactions between Suaram and its parent company, Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd.  

Suaram, which claims to be a non-governmental organisation, was also found to have not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS). 

On the Saudi Arabian government’s rejection of a Malaysian application to increase its annual quota of pilgrims to the Holy Land, Najib said the decision rested with the Saudi Arabian government. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said yesterday that Malaysia was among 40 countries which were denied an additional quota of Haj pilgrims for this year by the Saudi Arabian government.  

Malaysia had asked for the annual quota of 28,000 to be raised by 10,000 this year in view of the 982,000 people on the Haj pilgrimage waiting list. 

Najib expressed pride over the success of the 1 Malaysia English Channel

Solidarity Swimming Expedition team yesterday.

He said the team’s success was a major achievement for Malaysia as well as for the Malaysian Armed Forces. 

“I am very proud that they were able to swim across the English Channel, a feat most difficult to accomplish, what with the many obstacles. I am also proud of the fact there are people who are resilient and bold and carry the spirit of Malaysia Boleh,” he said.

Two teams from the armed forces, one comprising a solo swimmer and the other a relay team, completed the feat yesterday after the event was postponed due to strong winds and rough sea.  

Solo swimmer Estino Taniyu, a Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) personnel from Semporna, Sabah, became the second Malaysian to conquer the channel without the use of a shark cage, after Lennard Lee who accomplished the feat in 2004. Estino completed his swim in 13 hours, 45 minutes and 45 seconds. 

The relay team of six swimmers, comprising Mohd Roslan Mohd Zawawi, Mohd Khairul Faizal Mazli, Mohd Salleh Mahmor, Buranurdin Sali, Sharizal Omar and Mohd Zulfadhli Mahamad, completed their swim in 14 hours and 30 minutes.     

The expedition was sponsored by the Malaysian 7 Continents Exploration Club under the patronage of the prime minister.