I replaced Husni with 'tougher nut to crack' Johari - Najib

Summary

• Najib Abdul Razak denies that he replaced Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah as finance minister II with Johari Abdul Ghani for allegedly asking too many questions about 1MDB.

• The former prime minister says Johari was a corporate figure and had experience and expertise in restructuring companies like 1MDB.

• Najib also says Johari was a “tougher nut to crack” compared to Husni.

1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak explained that he replaced Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah as former finance minister II with Johari Abdul Ghani as the latter was “a tougher nut to crack”.

Najib, who was also finance minister, said this in denying that there was any impropriety in replacing Husni, who claimed that he was warned by his former boss to not interfere in 1MDB.

He said he decided to transfer Husni as he had Johari (above) in mind as a replacement as the latter was a corporate figure who was experienced with restructuring and reviving companies.

The former prime minister said he saw it as a logical choice due to the problems with 1MDB as Johari’s experience and expertise could play a part in the rationalisation of the sovereign wealth fund.

During re-examination by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib rubbished the prosecution’s claim that he tried to put Husni in “cold storage” following the latter’s questions about 1MDB.

Najib: I wanted him (Husni) to play a part in another portfolio.

Shafee: What is Johari doing now?

Najib: Apart from being plantation industries and commodities minister, he also continues to head the task force for (1MDB) debt recovery.

Shafee: Still associated with 1MDB?

Najib: Yes, he has expertise recognised by the current government.

Shafee: Is Johari a character easier to push over compared to Husni?

Najib: I think you know his (Johari) true character, everybody would say Johari is a tougher nut to crack.

The accused was testifying during today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against him.

‘Political donation from Saudis’

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 from 1MDB.

Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib due to the strength of some 50 witness testimonies.

The former prime minister was first charged in 2018 and the trial started the year after. The prosecution stage of the trial lasted six years.

Since the prima facie ruling, Najib has been testifying since Dec 2 last year to defend himself against the charges.

He was cross-examined by the prosecution for 10 days, with prosecutors having wrapped up their grilling two days ago.

Throughout the criminal trial, Najib maintained he had no knowledge or involvement in wrongdoing at 1MDB, and that all embezzlement there was solely masterminded by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and its management.

The accused also relied on the defence that he was led to believe that the money that went into his account was a political donation from Saudi Arabia, as promised by the late monarch King Abdullah during a 2010 meeting.

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