KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Malaysian government is expected to explain the US$700 million (S$970 million) political donation that was banked into the Prime Minister's personal account during the current Parliament sitting, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

"This will be answered together with other similar questions in this sitting, at a date that will be fixed later," she said this in response to Democratic Action Party (DAP) lawmakers Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) and Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) in a written answer dated Oct 19.

Both the opposition lawmakers had asked Prime Minister Najib Razak to state the source of the political funding and who benefited from it.

Lim Lip Eng had also asked Najib to explain a report that claimed another US$993 million was missing from state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The funds were meant as payment to the International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).

Najib had said that any political funding he received was not used for personal gain.

He also said he would not disclose details of the donations he received, as there was no existing law to regulate political funding.

In a related matter, the Finance Ministry said any details relating to 1MDB's administration was "private and confidential".

The ministry said this in response to Dr Ko Chung Sen (DAP-Kampar), who requested details of 1MDB's annual perks and bonuses, that were paid to its chief executive officer since the company's inception in 2009.

He also requested details of annual allowances allocated for 1MDB chairman and its board of directors during the same year.

"1MDB is a company that is bound to Companies Act 1965, where all binding agreements, including the contract of employment, are private and confidential," said the reply.