No denial from Saudi palace supports my belief that the funds I received were legitimate donations, says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 13): Datuk Seri Najib Razak said on Friday that there has been no official denial from the Saudi palace or the embassy regarding his claim that the US$681 million (RM2.08 billion) he received in his personal accounts in 2013 were actually donations from the Saudi royal family, which supports his claim that the donations were genuine.
The former prime minister said this in court on Friday, as he continued his testimony in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial.
“In my case, despite the global attention and significant allegations surrounding the funds I received, including scrutiny from the United States and within Malaysia, there has been no official denial from the Royal Household of Saudi Arabia refuting that these funds were a donation from His Royal Highness King Abdullah.
“This absence of a denial is significant, as it aligns with the established norms of monarchies to address unfounded claims, and further supports my genuine belief that the funds were legitimate donations,” he told the court, as he read out his written testimony.
Najib has already read over 500 pages of testimony since he first took the stand on Dec 2. He is now reading from an additional 100-odd page testimony, which the defence tendered on Thursday.
The 71-year-old, who is now in jail after being found guilty for graft involving RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds, went on to add that the government of Saudi had previously issued statements to correct any misconception, or refute claims.
He cited the statement it issued in September 2021, in relation to classified documents linked to the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, which stated that the Saudis did not have prior knowledge about the attack, nor were they involved.
Najib testified that such statements often come through its government or embassies, rather than directly from the Royal Household.
He also reiterated that former Saudi minister Adel Al- Jubair had confirmed that the funds he received were a “genuine donation”, referring to a statement made by Al-Jubair in April 2016.
But in October 2018, then-Malaysian foreign minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said Al-Jubair had informed him that the donations had nothing to do with the kingdom’s government.
In response to this, Najib, in his testimony on Friday, said it was not Al-Jubair who denied the kingdom’s involvement, but a Saudi opposition leader.
“Furthermore, it is important to note that it was not former Saudi foreign minister Adel Al-Jubair who later denied the funds were a donation to me, but rather an opposition politician,” he said.
Najib also repeated that the King of Saudi Arabia, the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, had “clearly conveyed” that the donations were a personal gift to Najib.
He also testified that receiving funds in his personal account would “avoid any potential complications” that might arise if the purported donations were sent to a political organisation.
Najib said the allegations levelled against him over the donations were not just an insult to him, but also to the House of Saud — Saudi Arabia’s ruling royal family — and undermines the goodwill between both countries.
Najib also said the current Saudi King, King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud, had even paid an official visit to Malaysia in 2017 but did not raise any issues with the purported donations.
“He did not raise anything openly, or even in private meetings. [In fact,] we were alone in the car where I took a selfie with him, which was unprecedented [and he didn’t mention the donations],” he said.
Najib added that he was allowed to enter the Kaaba, the holy Islamic site, and also the Prophet Muhammad’s tomb. He questioned why he was allowed to be at the sacred spaces if the Saudis were displeased with him.
He went on to ask why would King Salman visit Malaysia if he was displeased with him, and why would the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, also known as Aramco, invest billions in Pengerang, Johor.
Aramco is Saudi Arabia’s state-owned petroleum company.
Najib is facing four abuse of power charges in this trial, and 21 money-laundering charges.
The trial continues before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
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