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PUTRAJAYA (Jan 21): Datuk Seri Najib Razak claimed that the legality of the government task force investigating the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) debacle was questionable.
Testifying in his defence during the ongoing 1MDB-Tanore trial, the former prime minister said the multi-agency joint task force was not formed according to proper protocols and regulations.
"It was disbanded as it was unlawful on principle," Najib said on Tuesday.
Previously, Najib had testified that he did not order the controversial disbandment of the task force in July 2015, rather, it was an "administrative" decision.
The task force included, amongst others, the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC).
It was set up in 2015 and led by former attorney general (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail. Following Abdul Gani's removal as AG, the task force was disbanded in July 2015, when Najib still helmed the government.
Tan Sri Abu Kassim, who was MACC chief at that juncture, was also transferred out of the anti-graft body.
On Tuesday, Najib disagreed with deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar that the termination of Abdul Gani and Abu Kassim restricted the role of the task force.
"Disagree, investigations were still ongoing," he said.
The now imprisoned 71-year-old previously testified that individual agencies managed to continue their probe, citing BNM and the Public Accounts Committee’s investigations as examples.
Najib had also testified that the "leadership" changes at the MACC and the AGC were part of an "administrative reshuffling".
Najib said heard rumours of purported charge sheet but didn't verify
When asked if Najib was aware of the purported charge sheet against him around 2015, the ex-PM said that he had heard rumours, but didn't "verify it himself".
Najib also disagreed that Abdul Gani's services were terminated due to his role in the 1MDB investigations.
"There were several issues, especially health issues," he said.
Kamal reverted to the ex-PM's previous testimony, where Najib had said that he intended to recommend Abdul Gani as a Federal Court judge, but this did not materialise.
Elaborating, Najib said that at that point in time, he did not discuss this with Abdul Gani, and that the ex-AG did not "pass the process".
"At that time, I didn't discuss it with him. I don't want to give details but [he] didn't pass the process," he said without elaborating further.
Najib also testified that Abdul Gani had not been let go due to a loss of confidence in the latter, contradicting the late chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa's testimony in the 1MDB-audit report tampering trial.
"If I lost confidence in him, I wouldn't consider [him for] the position of Federal Court judge," he said.
In this trial, Najib faces four abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges.
The trial before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.