Najib had no interest in 1MDB: Ex-minister Noh
Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid
Published: Mar 26, 2025 3:39 PM
Updated: 7:45 PM
Summary
Published: Mar 26, 2025 3:39 PM
Updated: 7:45 PM
Summary
- A former member of Najib Abdul Razak’s cabinet testified that the former prime minister has no personal interest in Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
- Noh Omar was referring to the 2009 federal takeover of Terengganu Investment Authority, which later morphed into 1MDB.
1MDB TRIAL | A former member of Najib Abdul Razak’s cabinet has come to the defence of the former prime minister.
Noh Omar told the High Court in Putrajaya this afternoon that the former finance minister did not have an interest in 1MDB.
The former agriculture and agro-based industries minister testified that Najib was not the driving force behind the federal government’s takeover of Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) in 2009, which transformed it into 1MDB.
The 15th defence witness was giving oral evidence during today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against Najib.
Noh (above) was refuting cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar regarding the prosecution’s narrative that Najib’s interest in the matter caused the federal government to acquire the state-owned entity.
Kamal: This is our case, the prosecution’s narrative. Najib’s defence team claims no “cenderung” (tendency to influence the federal takeover of TIA). But the prosecution states that based on facts, Najib actually has interest and tendency to ensure TIA was taken over by the federal government. Do you agree or not?
Noh: Disagree.
The prosecution’s narrative was that Najib pre-planned the federal government takeover of 1MDB to commit the alleged abuse of power and money laundering.
Meanwhile, during re-examination by lead defence counsel Shafee Abdullah, Noh reiterated that Najib never had an interest in driving the federal takeover of 1MDB.
Noh Omar told the High Court in Putrajaya this afternoon that the former finance minister did not have an interest in 1MDB.
The former agriculture and agro-based industries minister testified that Najib was not the driving force behind the federal government’s takeover of Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) in 2009, which transformed it into 1MDB.
The 15th defence witness was giving oral evidence during today’s RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering trial against Najib.
Noh (above) was refuting cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar regarding the prosecution’s narrative that Najib’s interest in the matter caused the federal government to acquire the state-owned entity.
Kamal: This is our case, the prosecution’s narrative. Najib’s defence team claims no “cenderung” (tendency to influence the federal takeover of TIA). But the prosecution states that based on facts, Najib actually has interest and tendency to ensure TIA was taken over by the federal government. Do you agree or not?
Noh: Disagree.
The prosecution’s narrative was that Najib pre-planned the federal government takeover of 1MDB to commit the alleged abuse of power and money laundering.
Meanwhile, during re-examination by lead defence counsel Shafee Abdullah, Noh reiterated that Najib never had an interest in driving the federal takeover of 1MDB.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak
He pointed out that Najib did not walk out of the 2009 cabinet meetings discussing the federal takeover, as there was no conflict of interest.
Noh pointed out that the one time Najib walked out of a cabinet meeting was due to the ministers discussing a matter involving CIMB Bank, which was linked to the then-prime minister’s younger brother, Nazir Razak.
The former minister, however, pointed out that during the 2009 cabinet meetings, the issue of the federal takeover of 1MDB was not the same as a matter involving a company owned by a family linked to a minister.
Noh emphasised that the takeover was the cabinet’s collective decision and not solely Najib’s.
Shafee: Did anyone (among the cabinet ministers) objected?
Noh: None.
Noh noted that the idea to set up TIA was initially broached by then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in late 2008, when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the prime minister and Najib was still deputy prime minister.
Trial resumes tomorrow morning.
Prima facie established
On Oct 30 last year, the High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuses of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB.
Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib due to the strength of some 50 witness testimonies.
The prosecution witnesses included former members of 1MDB management, including former CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, and former general counsel Jasmine Loo.
Between early December last year and late January this year, Najib spent 26 days on the witness stand trying to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
The accused contended that he had no knowledge or involvement in wrongdoing at 1MDB, and that embezzlement there was solely masterminded by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and the management of the sovereign wealth fund.
The former Pekan MP also relied on the defence that he was promised a donation by the late Saudi monarch King Abdullah during a meeting in Riyadh in 2010.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted.
He pointed out that Najib did not walk out of the 2009 cabinet meetings discussing the federal takeover, as there was no conflict of interest.
Noh pointed out that the one time Najib walked out of a cabinet meeting was due to the ministers discussing a matter involving CIMB Bank, which was linked to the then-prime minister’s younger brother, Nazir Razak.
The former minister, however, pointed out that during the 2009 cabinet meetings, the issue of the federal takeover of 1MDB was not the same as a matter involving a company owned by a family linked to a minister.
Noh emphasised that the takeover was the cabinet’s collective decision and not solely Najib’s.
Shafee: Did anyone (among the cabinet ministers) objected?
Noh: None.
Noh noted that the idea to set up TIA was initially broached by then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin in late 2008, when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the prime minister and Najib was still deputy prime minister.
Trial resumes tomorrow morning.
Prima facie established
On Oct 30 last year, the High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuses of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB.
Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib due to the strength of some 50 witness testimonies.
The prosecution witnesses included former members of 1MDB management, including former CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, and former general counsel Jasmine Loo.
Between early December last year and late January this year, Najib spent 26 days on the witness stand trying to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
The accused contended that he had no knowledge or involvement in wrongdoing at 1MDB, and that embezzlement there was solely masterminded by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and the management of the sovereign wealth fund.
The former Pekan MP also relied on the defence that he was promised a donation by the late Saudi monarch King Abdullah during a meeting in Riyadh in 2010.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted.
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