1MDB’s former chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy’s contract extension in 2018 was granted at the company’s former chairperson, Irwan Serigar Abdullah’s request, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Irwan’s request was made despite Kamal Ali, who was a member of the 1MDB board of directors, being of the view that Arul’s services were no longer needed at that point in time.