PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied showing The Edge Media Group chairman Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong the door for suggesting that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho be prosecuted for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Najib, 71, admitted during cross-examination by DPP Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam at the RM2.28bil 1MDB trial in the High Court here on Friday (Jan 17) that the meeting did take place on March 6, 2015.
However, he disagreed that he had gestured to Tong to leave.
In his testimony in 2022, Tong said he visited Najib at the former prime minister's private residence and brought up the issue of Low's misconduct.
Tong said he was "shown the door" after he suggested to Najib that Low should be prosecuted for swindling US$700mil from the sovereign wealth fund to his own company, Good Star Ltd.
"Yes, the meeting did happen. But that is not true, I did not ask him to leave," Najib added.
DPP Mustaffa: In his (Tong) testimony, he said you showed him out?
Najib: That's just "adab" (good manners). I would walk villagers to the door too. I never asked him to leave. I didn't tell him to leave.
DPP Mustaffa: Do you agree that this added to the suspicion about Jho Low and caused you to be uncomfortable?
Najib: Agreed.
DPP Mustaffa: In 2015, the suspicion towards Jho Low reached its peak. Shouldn't action have been taken against him then?
Najib: At that time, I was waiting for a report on 1MDB but there was none.
DPP Mustaffa: Shouldn't there already be information and an investigation carried out?
Najib: I disagree.
The prosecution also suggested that Najib should have adhered to Article 8 of the Code of Ethics for Members of the Administration (1997) and dissociated himself from Low, as the businessman had garnered a bad reputation.
Najib responded that although he became increasingly uncomfortable with Low, he left it to investigative agencies, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), to investigate.
"Although I was suspicious, I carried on with Jho Low as we had something to achieve for the nation's interest," he said.
Najib also disagreed with DPP Kamal Baharin Omar's suggestion that he had the "final say" in 1MDB in a top-down approach in the company.
DPP Kamal: Article 117 of the Memorandum & Articles of Association stated that the final decision is in your hands as the prime minister.
Najib: No. I obey the law. The law says the main organ of the company is the board (of directors). That is the principle.
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 on Monday (Jan 20).
