Najib received nearly RM20k as MP and Leader of Dewan Rakyat

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The High Court hearing the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday (Aug 28) heard that the former prime minister received RM19,846.59 in allowances as a Member of Parliament and Leader of the House (Dewan Rakyat) each month, from Jan 2015 to March 2018.

Malaysian Parliamentary Affairs Division administrative officer Farah Nurdiana Azhar, 42, said beginning Jan 1,2015, the monthly allowance received by Najib, as Pekan MP, was raised to RM16,000 from the RM6,508.59 he received before the date.

"Beginning Jan 1,2015, the former prime minister received an allowance of RM19,846.59 including the allowance as Leader of the House," she said during examination-in-chief by Deputy Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib on the first day of the trial.

Najib has been charged with using his position to obtain a sum of RM2.3bil in 1MDB funds with 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.

Ahmad Akram: In general, what is the allowance eligibility of a Member of Parliament?

Farah Nurdiana: As of Jan 1,2015, an MP's monthly allowance is RM16,000 and with other permanent allowances received on a monthly basis, it totals RM25,700.

Ahmad Akram: Prior to Jan 1,2015, how much did MPs receive?

Farah Nurdiana: RM6,508.59.

The third prosecution witness said Najib had also received an allowance of RM3,846.59 as Leader of the House.

Farah Nurdiana said based on the former prime minister's salary slips, his income from 2011 to 2014 was RM10,355.18 a month.

"The amount includes the allowances as an MP and as Leader of the House," she said.

Farah Nurdiana also informed the court that the payments for both allowances were made to Najib's Affin Bank account number 100040014008.

Asked by Ahmad Akram whether the payments for the two allowances were ever banked into another account, Farah Nurdiana replied,"No".

Farah Nurdiana also said both allowances were paid by the Malaysian Parliament.

The Pekan MP is charged with committing corruption offences at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24,2011 and Dec 19,2014, and for the money laundering charges at the same place, between March 22,2013 and Aug 30,2013.

The trial before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. – Bernama