Ex-Religious Affairs Minister Testifies in Najib’s Trial
No Need to Verify Saudi Arabia’s Contribution
PUTRAJAYA: A former minister, Jamil Khir Baharom, told the High Court that former Prime Minister Najib Razak was not obliged to inform his Cabinet about a purported donation received from the late Saudi King Abdullah.
Political Purposes
Jamil, who was the former religious affairs minister, stated that the donation was meant for political purposes and not for the country. "Najib did not inform the Cabinet," he said, when asked by the prosecution whether the "donation" had been discussed at Cabinet meetings.
Kedah Umno and Saudi Arabia
Jamil added that Kedah Umno was told during past meetings of "contributions" Najib made to the state chapter. Jamil, the former Kedah Umno chief, also claimed that Najib’s funds originated from Saudi Arabia.
Meeting with King Abdullah
Jamil said he was one of those who attended Najib’s meeting with King Abdullah on January 11, 2010, along with ex-foreign minister Anifah Aman and the former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Syed Omar Al-Saggaf. "Najib told me that King Abdullah had wanted to make a contribution," Jamil said.
No Checks Conducted
Deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar then asked Jamil whether he conducted checks to determine if the funds really originated from Saudi Arabia. Jamil replied, "There was no need to."
Unknown Amount
Kamal asked, "Did you know how much Datuk Seri (Najib) received from King Abdullah?" Jamil responded, "I don’t know."
Hearing Continues
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah. Najib is standing trial on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
Conclusion
The testimony of Jamil Khir Baharom has shed light on the alleged donation received by Najib Razak from the late Saudi King Abdullah. The former minister’s statement that there was no need to verify the origin of the funds has raised questions about the transparency of the alleged donation.
FAQs
Q: Was Najib obligated to inform his Cabinet about the alleged donation?
A: No, according to Jamil Khir Baharom, the donation was meant for political purposes and not for the country.
Q: Did Jamil conduct checks to determine if the funds originated from Saudi Arabia?
A: No, he stated that there was no need to.
Q: What was the amount received by Najib from King Abdullah?
A: Jamil did not know the exact amount.