Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has spent about 15 million dollars on personal items using money from his bank accounts where cash from a state fund was suspected to have been funnelled, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Among the items paid for from Najib's accounts were purchases of clothes, jewellery and a car, the US-based newspaper said on Thursday, saying it saw documents that contain bank transfer information involving stores in the United States, Malaysia, Italy and other places.
The information appeared to contradict claims by the embattled premier that none of the money from the accounts - which he said was a donation from Saudi Arabia - was used for personal expenses, the newspaper added.
The office of the prime minister did not comment on the news report.
The Wall Street Journal first reported in July last year that Najib's bank accounts contained deposits of 2.6 billion ringgit ($A876.76 million), suggesting the money came from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The Malaysian attorney general concluded that the money was a donation from Saudi Arabia and had since been returned.
The Wall Street Journal report triggered outrage and calls for Najib's resignation even from within the ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation.
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and sacked deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin have joined forces with the opposition in leading a movement called Save Malaysia aimed at forcing Najib to quit his post.
