Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has "received an inheritance" which is his source of wealth, a statement from his office reportedly said.

The New York Times (NYT) today quoted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) saying this when asked how Najib acquired his money.

The report concerned businessman Jho Low, his links to Najib’s family and the premier's allegedly lavish lifestyle.

Among others, the prominent newspaper pointed to a series of photos of Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor with a range of expensive handbags that had gone viral on social media.

The Birkin bags - of which there were supposedly at least nine - cost between US$9,000 to US$150,000 (RM32,000 to RM535,000) each, the report said.

The NYT also claimed that it had obtained invoices and other documents amounting to "millions of dollars" in jewellery ordered for Rosmah in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009.

It also quoted Najib's former aide Ariff Sabri saying that Najib had kept “piles and piles” of cash stacked in his safe.

However, the PMO reportedly responded saying, "Neither any money spent on travel, jewellery purchases nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister's position, responsibilities, and legacy (of) family assets."

Najib is the son of the late Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister.

His monthly salary as the current prime minister is RM22,826.65, and is also entitled to a range of perks and allowances, such as a pension.