KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak maintains that he has no knowledge of the RM42mil that was misappropriated from SRC International Sdn Bhd, which was formerly a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Repeating his oath for the third time in the course of the entire trial, the former prime minister told the High Court: “Wallahi wabillahi watallahi. I did not demand the RM42mil.
“I did not plan for the RM42mil nor was the RM42mil offered to me.
“There has been no evidence or witnesses that say so.”
The Arabic phrase is often used by Muslims to swear in order to prove themselves.
Najib addressed the court in mitigation, an hour before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali delivered his sentence, where he also pointed out the achievements during his tenure as prime minister.
Speaking off the cuff, he said the country prospered to the extent that it achieved a very strong and robust economic growth for nine consecutive years, ending with a 5.9% growth in 2017.
“It’s also a period where we saw our stock market having the longest ever bull run in our history, 1,900 points on the FBM KLCI.
“During this period, I oversaw massive infrastructure development in the country including public transport and housing on a massive scale.
“I also ensured every single group and community benefited. For example, the farmers, smallholders and government servants benefited from a large-scale programme to upgrade their income level,” he said.
Najib added that there were also record achievements for organisations such as Petronas, which had over RM170bil in cash reserves while Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd posted record dividends.
He said he also ensured a fairer and more gentle society through the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), something he was not given much credit for.
“I ensured that the country did not undergo periods of abuse of power.
“I also put in a proposal to implement a more transparent system of political donations. That proposal required bipartisan support but the opposition at the time did not agree and the proposal did not see the light of day,” Najib said.
At the lobby of the court complex later, Najib told the horde of waiting reporters that he was innocent and would fight on to clear his name in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
The former prime minister said he was disappointed with the judiciary system with regard to the case.
“I’m definitely not satisfied with the decision but in our judiciary system, the High Court is the first level, where the decision is made by only one judge.
“We have benefits at the Court of Appeal level, which has three judges. Hopefully they can accept our points and arguments.
“It’s not the end of the world because there’s the process of appeal and we hope we will be successful then,” Najib said.
He also urged his supporters to continue believing in him, his struggles and continue to be in positive and high spirits.
Najib added that he repeated his oath in court so that it would be recorded as a firm confession that he had nothing to do with the RM42mil.
Repeating his oath for the third time in the course of the entire trial, the former prime minister told the High Court: “Wallahi wabillahi watallahi. I did not demand the RM42mil.
“I did not plan for the RM42mil nor was the RM42mil offered to me.
“There has been no evidence or witnesses that say so.”
The Arabic phrase is often used by Muslims to swear in order to prove themselves.
Najib addressed the court in mitigation, an hour before Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali delivered his sentence, where he also pointed out the achievements during his tenure as prime minister.
Speaking off the cuff, he said the country prospered to the extent that it achieved a very strong and robust economic growth for nine consecutive years, ending with a 5.9% growth in 2017.
“It’s also a period where we saw our stock market having the longest ever bull run in our history, 1,900 points on the FBM KLCI.
“During this period, I oversaw massive infrastructure development in the country including public transport and housing on a massive scale.
“I also ensured every single group and community benefited. For example, the farmers, smallholders and government servants benefited from a large-scale programme to upgrade their income level,” he said.
Najib added that there were also record achievements for organisations such as Petronas, which had over RM170bil in cash reserves while Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd and Permodalan Nasional Bhd posted record dividends.
He said he also ensured a fairer and more gentle society through the abolition of the Internal Security Act (ISA), something he was not given much credit for.
“I ensured that the country did not undergo periods of abuse of power.
“I also put in a proposal to implement a more transparent system of political donations. That proposal required bipartisan support but the opposition at the time did not agree and the proposal did not see the light of day,” Najib said.
At the lobby of the court complex later, Najib told the horde of waiting reporters that he was innocent and would fight on to clear his name in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
The former prime minister said he was disappointed with the judiciary system with regard to the case.
“I’m definitely not satisfied with the decision but in our judiciary system, the High Court is the first level, where the decision is made by only one judge.
“We have benefits at the Court of Appeal level, which has three judges. Hopefully they can accept our points and arguments.
“It’s not the end of the world because there’s the process of appeal and we hope we will be successful then,” Najib said.
He also urged his supporters to continue believing in him, his struggles and continue to be in positive and high spirits.
Najib added that he repeated his oath in court so that it would be recorded as a firm confession that he had nothing to do with the RM42mil.
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