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 at the High Court here yesterday that the meeting between them 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 his private residence and brought up the issue of Low’s misconduct.
Tong said he was “shown the door” after he suggested that Low be prosecuted for swindling US$700mil (RM3.151bil) 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 the investigation agencies, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), to investigate.
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.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Monday.
