Four differences in wording cost me five years of negative perception, says Najib

– Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Simply because of four differences in wording, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says he has faced negative perception for the last five years.

The former Pekan MP said he and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy also had to bear legal costs over four years in the case regarding alleged tampering of the Auditor-General's audit report on 1MDB.

"Just because of four differences in wordings. Take some time to read the differences that were mentioned in the court's document.

"Read and evaluate with an open mind: Are the differences significant?

"Throughout the trial, little by little, based on the statements given by the prosecution witnesses called, indeed showed not only were the amendments made to the audit report unimportant, (it was also) trivial and minor.

"Even the auditor-general at that time, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, confirmed that he acted and carried out his duties without receiving any pressure or instructions from any party," read a post on Najib's Facebook account on Tuesday (Sept 12).

This came after the Court of Appeal earlier in Tuesday morning made the decision to dismiss an application for an appeal filed by the prosecution against Najib and Arul Kanda.

The former prime minister said the people needed to read beyond news headlines.

"Many people only read the headlines without following the progress of the trial (and so) the wrong perception is established," read the post.

A three-member Court of Appeal bench chaired by Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail on Tuesday made a unanimous decision to strike out the appeal due to the prosecution's failure to meet deadlines to continue the appeal against Najib and Arul's acquittal.

As such, both Najib and Arul remain free from charges over the alleged tampering of the auditor-general's audit report on 1MDB.

Judge Hadhariah said the prosecution team had ample time to file for the extension of time on at least three occasions but had failed to do so.