I had no role in setting up of TIA, says Terengganu Sultanah

 

Sultanah Nur Zahirah also said she had no knowledge of the alleged appointment of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, as an official adviser of TIA, which later became 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). - NSTP/NURUL SYAZANA ROSE RAZMAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultanah of Terengganu, Sultanah Nur Zahirah started off her day in court by stating that she did not meddle in the state's administrative matters.

She said this included the inception of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).

Sultanah Nur Zahirah also said she had no knowledge of the alleged appointment of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, as an official adviser of TIA, which later became 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

She said this when testifying in her defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown over an alleged defamatory statement in the book, The Sarawak Report - The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

The trial was conducted via video conferencing due to the issue of security.

Earlier, Sultanah Nur Zahirah said the statement depicted her as having misused her position in the setting up of TIA.

"I stress that I not only had no role, but also had no influence or involvement in the formation of TIA. In fact, I do not have knowledge at all in relation to it."

She said the alleged defamatory statement also depicted her as supporting Low to obtain his role as TIA's adviser.

"I would like to stress that I have never given my consent to Low or any parties in relation to the establishment of TIA.

"In fact I do not know Low," she said, adding that the statement also portrayed her as lacking integrity and morality, and of being involved in corrupt practices.

Apart from Rewcastle-Brown, the sultanah also named book publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd as the other defendants.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah is claiming RM100 million in damages from each of the defendants and wanted the second defendant, the publisher, to withdraw the books containing the defamatory statements as well as stop the third defendant, the printing company, from printing more copies of the book.

In their statement of defence, the three defendants denied that they had accused Sultanah Nur Zahirah of being involved in corrupt practices.

Rewcastle-Brown contended that Sarawak Report did not suggest that Sultanah Nur Zahirah was involved in a conspiracy that involved Jho Low or that she was involved in the government administration associated with 1MDB matters.

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