1MDB-Tanore: Receiving gift OK, as long as it doesn't impact integrity, says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Gifts and tokens of appreciation to those in power are above board, so long as it doesn't sway the decision-making process, the court heard on Monday.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this while testifying in his defence in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial regarding the US$681 million (RM2.081 billion) purported donation from Saudi Arabia into his personal accounts.
"If the gift sways our decision (menyebabkan kita terpenggaruh), then it's not OK. But if it has nothing to do with our power, then it's OK. The gift [is fine], as long as it doesn't affect our integrity," the ex-PM said.
Najib was responding to deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar during cross-examination, where the former finance minister was asked to refer to sections of the Code of Ethics for Government Administrators which state that administrators should avoid receiving gifts.
Kamal highlighted portions of the Code on receiving gifts, stressing that as the ex-PM, Najib could not accept any gifts. Najib countered that the portions needed to be read as whole, and that, as long the administrator’s integrity was intact, there was no issue.
Najib has testified that he received US$681 million from what he believed to be donations from the then-ruler of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, and later returned US$620 million of unutilised funds as there was no longer a need for it.
The now imprisoned 71-year-old has reiterated numerous times that the funds in his accounts were a donation from the late King Abdullah, which were a form of a "personal gift". It is also Najib's testimony that he did not use any of the funds for his own benefit, but rather for corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for the benefit of the people.
Based on this, Najib on Monday testified that he did not use the above-mentioned donation for his own personal benefit.
It is the prosecution's case that the funds in Najib's accounts were not donations from the Middle East, but rather monies misappropriated from the troubled strategic development firm, 1MDB.
Najib disagrees that Cabinet should have been informed of donations received
On Monday, Najib was also asked if he had informed his Cabinet members of the incoming funds.
Najib replied that he had relayed to the Cabinet that support was coming in from the Middle East on one occasion, but said he didn't go into the specifics as it was a personal donation made directly to him.
When pressed further, Najib said that he would have to check on the Cabinet meeting minutes and get back to the prosecution.
Kamal: When you receive money in your personal account, you have to declare it at least to the Cabinet.
Najib: I did mention in passing that (the late) King Abdullah would support me, but I did not go into detail. I didn't inform [in detail] — this was a personal donation, although [it was] used for CSR and to support my leadership. But it was given to me personally.
Kamal: There is a responsibility to declare [the incoming funds] to your Cabinet?
Najib: I disagree.
It has to be noted that Najib was the head of two Cabinets — the one before the 13th general election in 2013 and the one after. The funds were deposited into his personal accounts from 2011 to 2014.
In this trial, Najib is accused of four abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges.
The trial before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Tuesday.
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