DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has called on the prime minister to address Parliament about the donation of RM40 million to Sabah Umno after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz, who was tasked to explain the matter, was placed in the hot seat over conflict of interest allegations.

"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should present a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday on the RM40 million donation for Sabah Umno scandal of (timber tycoon) Michael Chia as well as whether Nazri violated conflict of interest principles," he said in a statement yesterday.

This follows PKR strategies director Rafizi Ramli's allegation of conflict of interest after he revealed on Thursday that Nazri's son was loaned a luxury sports utility vehicle from Chia.

NONEIt was initially reported that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) had detained Chia at the Hong Kong International Airport while he was carrying RM40 million in Singapore currency.

Nazri (right) had denied that any of this had ever happened, stating that the money was in fact frozen while it was in an account.

While acknowledging that Najib had explained that the fund was merely a political donation to Sabah Umno and was not laundered money, Lim said Nazri's explanation had only raised more questions.

"Instead of putting the issue to rest, Nazri's various explanations, both inside and outside Parliament, some of which contradicted each other, on the alleged RM40 million donation for Sabah Umno, have only aroused greater suspicion and reinforced widespread belief that a major cover-up is afoot about the RM40 million scandal..." he said.

Lim added that Nazri could not disclaim responsibility by stating that he was merely conveying replies from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or Attorney-General's Chambers on the matter as he had a ministerial responsibility to Parliament.

As such, Lim said Najib must "walk the talk" on corruption and provide a ministerial statement to Parliament on the matter.