News by Ahmad Naqib Idris

Shahrol was responding to Najib’s counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s suggestion that the events from 1MDB’s initial investment into the 1MDB-PSI joint venture up to the sale of the stake in PetroSaudi Oil Services Ltd (PSOSL) was a purposely planned and elaborate scam.

Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said that while he understands the judge is bound by the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP), the lawyer said he cannot perform under current circumstances.

During cross-examination, the accused Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asked Shahrol whether he knew the reason for the termination of Ernst & Young (EY) as 1MDB's auditor. He noted that EY lasted "hardly a year" as the fund’s auditor.

Lead Deputy Public Prosecutor in the trial, Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, said he intends to initiate the proceedings because an article quoting Najib in March contained serious allegations.

Riza, who is the stepson of the accused, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, will be added to the witness list.

"To move a vote of no confidence is the right of every MP irrespective of whether he thinks he is going to win or lose. When we expose the wrongdoing of the government, although some say we would not have majority, good sense will prevail.”

On Feb 24, the ruler said Dr Mahathir had come to meet him, and the King asked the then premier to not step down from his post, but Dr Mahathir was adamant about his decision.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham said the tests that are recommended for screening purposes are the antigen RTK test and the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reiterated that the targeted approach adopted by the ministry has proven fruitful so far and that the MoH will continue to use this approach in its case tracing and tracking.

Of the 70, 13 were imported cases while 57 were local transmissions. One death was reported, bringing the total number of fatalities to 109, equivalent to 1.62% of the total number of cases.