If I was an ‘overbearing’ person, my marriage to Najib would not have reached 34 years, says Rosmah

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has rebuffed claims of her "overbearing nature", saying that the prosecution tried to link her to the charges in the solar hybrid project trial with irrelevant and unrelated testimonies.

Rosmah, who was reading from her 118-page witness statement, told the High Court that her marriage to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would not have reached 34 years if she was indeed an "overbearing person" as claimed by the prosecution.

She also addressed the issue of a controversial audio recording, infamously known as "Can I advise you something?", in her statement.

"If I really have an overbearing nature and ability to influence decisions in the public sector, as relayed by the prosecution, especially (lead prosecutor) Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, this is indeed odd.

"The prosecution tried to paint me with a negative personality through the audio recording and alleged that I purportedly ordered Najib, who was the prime minister at that time, to do what I wanted in the solar hybrid project, which I deny.

"This is an untrue and unverified allegation and should not be considered by this court. This situation did not happen at all," she said.

Rosmah said despite being unable to verify the audio recording, the content sounded like a conversation between her and her husband.

"I would like to state here that my husband Najib and I are normal people just like any other couples out there.

"The conversation between my husband and I is a private conversation where I would give my opinion and my husband would listen and vice versa.

"There are times when my husband would be giving his opinion and I would be the one listening. Whether my husband accepts my opinion or I him, is secondary.

"This is part and parcel of a marriage and family life," she said.

Rosmah said in the recording, she had never pressed for her husband to follow her opinion.

"I was merely stressing my opinion and feelings. That was all," she said.

On Feb 18, the High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the audio recording could be entered as evidence in Rosmah’s graft trial.

This is his second ruling on the matter as he had initially dismissed the prosecution’s application to admit the clip into evidence on Dec 11, last year.

The 10-second recording was played by the prosecution during the trial with the aim of getting its fifth witness, former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, to identify the voices in the conversation.

Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5mil from Jepak Holdings’ former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

The bribes were allegedly received through Rosmah's former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25bil from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation.

The hearing continues before Justice Mohamed Zaini on Thursday (Oct 7).