PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court that he sought Low Taek Jho's assistance for dealings in China in 2016 despite the fugitive businessman's bad reputation due to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Najib had earlier testified that he sent his former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin to China on a trip to scout possible infrastructure projects.
Low, better known as Jho Low, had joined Amhari on this trip.
Najib, who was under cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib at the 1MDB trial here on Wednesday (Jan 15), agreed that during the material time, Low had gained a bad reputation due to the investigations by multiple government agencies into 1MDB.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Jho Low was said to have swindled funds from 1MDB.
Najib: It was a hot topic at that time.
DPP Ahmad Akram: He is widely known as a person who deceived the country then.
Najib: That was the impression then, yes.
DPP Ahmad Akram: Since that was the case, why did you still need him to help Amhari in China?
Najib: Because I want to generate wealth for Malaysia as quickly as possible. He has connections there, that's why we use him. But it wasn't for China to settle our debts.
DPP Ahmad Akram: But we have our ambassador there. We have our officers there. Why don't we use them?
Najib: He (Low) has his connections there.
The former Pekan MP was steadfast in his answers that he merely sought Low's help in the interest of the nation.
"My intention (in engaging Low) was to gain economic opportunities and profitable projects for Malaysia," Najib reiterated.
DPP Ahmad Akram: I put it to you, the reason you 'used' Jho Low was because you were under stress to pay back 1MDB's debt to IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company). They were demanding their monies and wanted to haul the case to the arbitration court, which you didn't want to. Therefore, you used Jho Low to get help from China.
Najib: I disagree.
On Oct 30, Najib was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah Thursday (Jan 16).
