Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak testified today, asserting that the RM60 million deposited into his AmIslamic bank account in 2011 was a donation from the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Najib stated that the funds were meant to support his political campaigns and aid his return as prime minister during Malaysia's general election. He testified as the first defense witness in his ongoing 1MDB trial, detailing the origins of the money, which has been linked to broader allegations of misuse of public funds tied to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib explained that the RM60,629,839.93 transferred by Saudi princes Faisal bin Turki bin Bandar Al-Saud and Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was a direct donation from King Abdullah. He recounted a private meeting in 2010 with the Saudi ruler, facilitated through interpreters, where the king reportedly pledged financial support to help Najib secure re-election. “At the meeting with King Abdullah, I was told specifically that I would be assisted in my coming general election to ensure that I would be returned as the prime minister. I understood this to be financial assistance,” Najib testified.
Najib stated that he opened a personal AmIslamic bank account on the advice of his late principal private secretary, Datuk Azlin Alias, to manage the donations securely. He claimed to have received confirmation letters from King Abdullah, extended to AmBank and Bank Negara, affirming the legitimacy of the donations. These letters, he argued, justified opening the accounts under his name.
Najib also mentioned fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), who informed him of King Abdullah's intention to donate up to USD 1 billion. Subsequently, RM60 million was remitted in two separate transfers on February 24 and June 14, 2011, via Riyadh Bank. He referenced a letter dated February 1, 2011, from Saud Abdulaziz Majid Al Saud as prior notification of these remittances.
Najib’s defense highlighted that neither AmIslamic Bank nor Bank Negara Malaysia flagged the transactions as suspicious and that all necessary documents were provided. He also pointed to testimony from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigator Senior Superintendent Nur Aida Arifin, who reportedly confirmed the remittances and their documentation.
Supporting his claim, Najib cited a 2016 interview in which former Saudi foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir allegedly confirmed the donations' authenticity. However, this has been disputed, with Malaysia’s former foreign minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah stating in 2018 that Al-Jubeir denied any Saudi government involvement in the RM2.6 billion Najib received as a donation.
Najib categorically denied visiting AmIslamic Bank’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch during the transactions, asserting that his private secretary Azlin had managed the account setup with the bank’s CEO, Cheah Tek Kuang. He presented four letters from Prince Saud, claiming they detailed promises of donations between February 2011 and June 2014. The prosecution, however, has argued that these letters are fabricated and that the funds were part of a larger scheme of financial mismanagement.
Najib insisted he believed the funds were legitimate donations and criticized the prosecution for questioning the letters' authenticity. He framed the trial as politically motivated, suggesting the charges were designed to damage his reputation and prevent his political resurgence.
The RM60 million case is part of the broader 1MDB scandal implicating global financial institutions and high-ranking officials. Najib’s defense hinges on proving the funds were lawful donations, while the prosecution argues they reflect systemic corruption. As the trial progresses, the court will evaluate evidence from both sides, including Najib’s 525-page witness statement. The outcome will have implications for Najib’s legacy and Malaysia’s stance on governance and accountability.
Information Source: Malay Mail
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