KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak has hit out at authorities for freezing his personal bank account, saying it has caused him “hardships” and he now has difficulties paying his bills.



“The Authorities need to realise that I am an ordinary citizen too. As the head of my household, I too have bills to pay, medical bills to attend to and a household to run.



"The authorities freezing my bank account has caused me hardship and difficulties in performing this role,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jul 11).



He said he discovered his personal account was frozen after a cheque he issued for his daughter’s medical treatment bounced, calling the government’s action “uncalled for” and “draconian.”



“I only realised my account was frozen when my personal cheque issued for the payment of my daughters medical treatment bounced,” said Najib.

He did not mention when this happened.





“The undue conduct of the relevant agency and the timing of the freezing of my account is uncalled for. I am dismayed at the conduct, the timing and exercise of such draconian actions by the Government of the day,” he added.

Last week, the New Straits Times reported that Najib's eldest daughter, Puteri Norlisa, is suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had reportedly frozen several accounts as part of their investigation into Najib’s involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal.



The accounts were said to have included those of Najib’s children and his grandchild.

However, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki denied that the bank account of Najib’s grandchild had been frozen.



Najib said his children’s accounts have now been unfrozen

“As of this morning, I was made to understand that my children’s account have now been unfrozen proving that the initial order to freeze their accounts were without basis,” he said.

“However my personal account remains frozen. This account has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with matters relating to the investigation conducted with the authorities,” he added.



Najib Razak was charged in court on Jul 4 in a probe linked to how billions of dollars went missing from 1MDB, a state-owned firm which he founded.



He was charge with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of using his position for gratification. The offences were allegedly carried out between 2011 and 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.