KUALA LUMPUR: Former religious affairs minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom told the High Court that he believed the purported Saudi Arabia donation was given to Datuk Seri Najib Razak due to the country being impressed with Malaysia’s modern Islamic way.
Jamil, 64, testified that Malaysia was a model multiracial country and its strong stance of not accepting Syiah left an impression on Saudi Arabia.
“They were impressed by us,” he said yesterday.
Jamil, who was testifying in the SRC International Sdn Bhd’s civil lawsuit against Najib over alleged breach of fiduciary duty, was part of Najib’s delegation in an unofficial meeting with Saudi Ruler King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud 16 years ago.
The informal meeting, which took place at the palace in Riyadh on Jan 11, 2010, was part of Najib’s official visit to the Middle Eastern country.
Apart from Najib and Jamil, former foreign minister Tan Sri Anifah Aman and former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Syed Omar Al-Saggaf were also present at the meeting.
When questioned by SRC’s lawyer Kwan Will Sen, Jamil, however, agreed that the view on Saudi Arabia being impressed by Malaysia was purely his own opinion.
In Jamil’s witness statement, he said there were many issues discussed in the informal meeting, including additional haj quota for Malaysians, the Arab Spring uprising, as well as funds from Saudi Arabia.
After the meeting, Jamil said the king and Najib had taken a walk together, away from the rest in the meeting.
As the two leaders were walking towards the middle of the hall, Jamil said Najib had signalled for him to join them.
Jamil said he got close enough to hear the conversation between the king and Najib where King Abdullah spoke in Arabic and it was translated to English by an interpreter.
“If I’m not mistaken, King Abdullah mentioned that he would be sending this financial contribution not long after the meeting date.
“He said that this fund would be channelled via a personal account of Najib due to certain reasons,” Jamil said.
He said that he understood that the donation was to be sent personally to Najib to avoid complications that could arise with channelling the money to a political party or entity.
In the suit filed in 2021, SRC International and its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd are seeking a declaration that Najib is liable to them for the receipt of RM42mil, among others.
Najib is also being sued for breach of fiduciary duties, knowing receipt of the funds, dishonest assistance, tort of misfeasance and abuse of power.
The hearing before Justice Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan resumes on March 2.
