PUTRAJAYA (Jan 10): Despite being known as a consummate gentleman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court here on Friday that he didn't send thank-you notes or express any gesture of gratitude after receiving donations from the Arab royalty.
Cross-examined for the third day in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial, the former prime minister said there were official protocols to adhere to, and thus, he could not reply to the late Saudi ruler King Abdullah to thank him for his purported financial assistance amounting to US$681 million (RM2.081 billion), as it was a "sensitive matter".
During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Kamal Baharin Omar had questioned Najib's previous testimony, where the former finance minister said that he would always accompany his visitors to the door as they leave his home as part of the Malay cultural behaviour or adab. However, the DPP pointed out that there was a faux pas, where upon receipt of such substantial monies, there was no acknowledgement or a gesture of gratitude.
Kamal: In Malay culture, we will convey our thanks officially.
Najib: No, this was a sensitive matter. There were protocols to be adhered to. I would have to go through the Foreign Ministry.
Previously, Najib had testified that when The Edge Media Group chairman Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong came to see him at his home in Langgak Duta in Kuala Lumpur in March 2015 — to relay concerns about the state wealth fund to Najib, and the misappropriations done by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and purported misappropriation of 1MDB funds — Najib said that he did not ask Tong to leave, but rather walked him to the door as this was the Malay adab.
Najib has always maintained that the donations were from the late Saudi King Abdullah. On Thursday, he had buttressed his earlier testimony, saying that he had tried to gain an audience with the Saudi head of state for a while, and had tried through two channels: the official diplomatic channel and through Jho Low, whom Najib said had unprecedented access to the Middle Eastern royalty.
The ex-prime minister also alluded to the four donation letters, confirming that the monies in his account were donations. The letter, however, did not come from King Abdullah, but rather from a former governor of the Madinah province, Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al Saud. All four letters issued from 2011 to 2014 state that the monies were a gift for Najib's contributions to the Islamic world.
During Friday's proceedings, Kamal asked if Najib had ever written to Saud to thank him, or to confirm that he had received the funds. To this, Najib answered in the negative.
Kamal then pointed out that the sum promised in the letters and the sums deposited into Najib's personal accounts did not tally. To this, Najib merely replied that he assumed that the donations would be deposited in tranches.
Kamal: I put it to you that the monies didn't come from King Abdullah.
Najib: I disagree.
Kamal: It didn't come from King Abdullah, and that's why you didn't send a thank-you note.
Najib: I disagree.
Najib also testified that he had not personally met Saud. He added that he had met with the Saudi royal family several times, but there were too many family members that he couldn't recount or remember the specific people.
On Friday, Najib also confirmed that he was in possession of the original copies of the letters, which were kept in the Prime Minister's Office. However, after losing the 2018 general election, access to the office was denied immediately.
When asked about the make of the letters, Najib said that it was a different quality paper, not a regular A4 paper which anyone would sign on.
Kamal: Was it on yellow paper, thick paper or ordinary paper?
Najib: It was a different kind of paper, but [Saud was not] the head of government.
Kamal: So it was not on A4 paper lah, like if [something] I was to sign?
Najib: No.
Najib also said that he received the letters via his then-principal private secretary, the late Datuk Azlin Alias, but did not ask where Azlin himself received the letters from.
In this trial, Najib is accused of four abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges.
Read also:
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Najib visibly shaken as prosecution attacks his inconsistencies over 'donation' details
1MDB-Tanore: Najib denies making last-ditch attempt to dismiss his case on a technicality in face of overwhelming evidence against him
1MDB-Tanore: Letter doesn't refer to meeting at which purported donations were 'promised'