Tempers flare as ex-minister grilled over his silence on 1MDB

SRC TRIAL | The mercury rose in Najib Abdul Razak's SRC International graft trial today as Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah was grilled about his silence on the 1MDB scandal when he was the second finance minister.

Testifying as the 56th witness, Husni attributed his silence to "politics," but said that he had on some 20 occasions personally raised his concerns to the former premier.

In his cross-examination, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah suggested that there is no written record of Husni's objections to matters relating to SRC International.

Specifically, Husni was grilled on his position on the government's decision to guarantee an RM2 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International.

SRC International received a total of RM4 billion from KWAP, in two tranches of equal portions.

Husni started to become annoyed as he was continually cut off by Shafee (photo), who himself appeared to be getting agitated at the witness.

Shafee: You could have raised your objections (in cabinet).

Husni: I could, but you know, in politics, things are different.

Shafee: Let's not go there.

Husni: It's hard if I can't be allowed to talk because there is always a 'why'.

Shafee: Don't you think your views should be made known to the whole cabinet? Not only the prime minister.

Husni: ...If I raise it in the cabinet meeting, then the perception is different. I have spoken to the prime minister and the prime minister has full power, he can decide. No need for me to talk in the cabinet. As an ordinary person, you won't do it.

Shafee: You don't think your fellow colleagues in the cabinet should know?

Husni: No need to know, to me, they don't need to know. As I mentioned, the prime minister has full power, he can decide. You know, in politics, people talk here and there, and what will happen to the government?

Shafee: You know collective responsibility?

Husni: You are not in politics, you don't know anything.

At one point, Shafee raised his voice at Husni during a series of questions and Husni shot back: "Why are you angry at me? I've known you for a long time."

Husni maintained that Najib was "autocratic" with regard to 1MDB and SRC International, and that his concerns were ignored.

This was despite Husni signing off on some documents related to the former 1MDB subsidiary, which was later brought under the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

The former minister said he had initially raised some concerns, but later stopped doing so. "I knew I could not do anything," he said.

However, Husni claimed that he did instruct his officer to monitor where SRC International funds went to, even though he was instructed by Najib not to interfere.

Husni was appointed as the second finance minister in 2009, but resigned in June 2016.

The former premier is standing trial on seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International.

He is accused of receiving the sum as kickbacks for approving RM4 billion in loans to SRC International from KWAP.

Najib has denied wrongdoing or using public funds for personal gain.  - Mkini