Najib schools 'office boy' Husni, says his former deputy intent on tarnishing him

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): Former Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah was intent on tarnishing Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's reputation on the witness stand, as he harbours revenge against the former premier.

Najib said this when testifying on the witness stand in his SRC International Sdn Bhd trial to questions from his lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed. The lawyer had asked him to explain why Ahmad Husni was not happy with him.

"I believe Ahmad Husni harbours dissatisfaction [with] me following my decision to transfer him from being MoF II (Finance Minister II) to the Economic Planning Unit, [which] resulted in him [resigning] immediately in 2016. He (Ahmad Husni) used the witness stand as the stage to voice his dissatisfaction openly.

"There were other incidences — which I choose not to reveal — which clearly show why he misunderstood my actions — that resulted in him [harbouring] deep revenge on me," he said.

The former premier was explaining about Ahmad Husni's testimony that he was prohibited by Najib to go to Switzerland in 2015, to unfreeze the SRC deposits which were said to have been kept in Swiss banks.

Najib said the issue was taken out of context as Ahmad Husni had asked him informally whether he should go to Switzerland to help and resolve the issue as he knew some friends there.

"I told him there was not a need to go to Switzerland as the SRC has been trying to resolve it. Besides this, Husni also approved a Finance Ministry memorandum dated Nov 4, 2015 to give SRC a short-term loan in this. The loan was for the purpose of SRC to resolve the matter with the Swiss government," he added.

On Ahmad Husni's notion of being described as an "office boy" with regard to SRC when he was told not to be involved in anything to do with the company, Najib said he never instructed the former second finance minister not to engage in SRC affairs.

"Documents and evidence adduced in this court showed otherwise as Ahmad Husni had been referred [to in] and [had] approved several Finance Ministry memorandum dated Feb 2, 2012, and the Treasury Memo dated Nov 4, 2015 shows his involvement in SRC.

"His allegation that he is regarded as an 'office boy' is a comedy as his signature as MoF II shows otherwise. Ahmad Husni was also present in the Feb 8, 2012 Cabinet meeting where the Second Government Guarantee was approved to SRC and he did not raised any issue," said the former premier and finance minister.

Further describing it as illogical for Ahmad Husni to have the notion that he was "an office boy" and merely following instructions, Najib said his colleague had failed in his responsibilities if he said that and if it was true that SRC required his observation at that time.

"It is certainly odd that he described himself as 'an office boy' when he himself wanted to remain at the Finance Ministry despite feeling so. This shows the contradiction of what he said on the witness stand in comparison to what had actually happened," the former PM added.

Najib further denied ordering Ministry of Finance (Inc) (MoF Inc) and the Finance Ministry to stop observing SRC.

In fact, he told them to carry out their duties as usual and implement MoF Inc guidelines on SRC, including performing due diligence on its investments.

The Edge is reporting the proceedings of the SRC trial live. 

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