RM20m to Umno assisted Kelantan flood victims: Najib

1MDB TRIAL | Ex-Umno president Najib Abdul Razak said he issued a RM20 million cheque to the political party so that it could serve the people, rather than for his personal benefit.

The ex-prime minister today told the Kuala Lumpur High Court about how he utilised part of US$681 million funds that he believed came into his account in 2013 from Saudi royalty,

He maintained he returned US$620 million of the unutilised donation.

The ex-finance minister reminisced on a December 2014 photograph of his visiting Kelantan to help victims there.

In rubbishing prosecutors’ claim that the RM20 million cheque to Umno originated from 1MDB, Najib testified that the party mobilised resources to provide immediate aid to affected communities in flood-hit Kelantan in 2013.

The former Pekan MP said his heart broke upon seeing the pain and hardship endured by the people that year, leading to Umno helping efforts to provide essential supplies like food, clean water, blankets, clothing, and temporary shelters.

Sense of responsibility

Najib recalled that his sense of responsibility led him to return to Kelantan in 2014 when the east coast state was slammed by even more catastrophic floods.

Referring to a December 2014 photograph of his visit to the state, Najib explained he went to the ground to oversee relief efforts and met local leaders, relief workers and flood victims.

“This image captures a moment that reminds me of the importance of being present during times of crisis and working alongside others to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“It also highlights the resilience and unity displayed by Malaysians during such difficult times, as I recall everyone came together to support those in need.

“My role, as the prime minister, which I approached with passion and with the rakyat at heart, was to ensure that the federal government, through Umno and other agencies, provided the necessary assistance and resources to help the victims recover and rebuild their lives,” Najib recalled.

Uplifting the community

He maintained that every ringgit he received and spent was meticulously recorded and accounted for with the aim of benefiting the people and uplifting the community.

Najib testified that the fund supported political administration and community welfare initiatives, which demonstrated his unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability and the public good.

The accused described the prosecution’s narrative that he misused the funds for personal benefit as not only baseless but stands in stark contrast to the undeniable evidence of his conduct.

Najib said if the prosecution’s theory were true, he may as well be labelled a modern-day Robin Hood, not enriching himself but using entrusted funds to serve the people through community programmes, welfare initiatives, and educational support.

“Unlike the fictional Robin Hood, however, I did not take unlawfully. Every ringgit was accounted for and transparency was directed towards its intended purpose.

“The true irony lies in the injustice: while I face charges for routine acts, others who played central roles in the misappropriation of billions walk scot-free, their actions unchallenged.

“This selective prosecution is both outrageous and unjust,” he lamented.

The ex-premier contended that he had neither knowledge nor involvement in wrongdoing and that the embezzlement at 1MDB was solely masterminded by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and members of the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund’s management.

Answerable case

On Oct 30, the criminal court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from 1MDB.

Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib over the Minister of Finance Incorporated’s (MOF Inc) wholly owned company.

The judge ruled that Najib had to answer the charges due to the strength of the various 50 witness testimonies during the prosecution stage of proceedings that lasted six years since the trial began in 2019. The accused was first charged in 2018.

Najib is serving a six-year jail sentence over a separate abuse of power case involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

Lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin appeared for Najib while deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar prosecuted.

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