NAJIB Razak’s former special officer became visibly emotional when testifying at the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial today, saying that he was afraid of being used to cover up criminal activities linked to the scandal-ridden entity.

Amhari Effendi Nazaruddin said he was ordered by Najib to travel to China in June 2016 to negotiate for a bailout for 1MDB.

He said he was aided by Low Taek Jho, who communicated by phone and email.

“Although I respected and followed Datuk Seri Najib, this was the hardest moment for me,” Amhari, his voice cracking, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“I was worried I would be involved in a percaturan (chess game) by Datuk Seri Najib and Jho Low if it was to cover up the loss of 1MDB funds or the settlement of IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company) debts that involved stolen 1MDB funds, or the use of such funds for political funding,” Amhari said, reading from his witness statement.

Amhari said his trip to China was a secret and that he was deployed as a diplomatic officer and a special envoy representing Najib.

“Once I arrived (in China), I found out that Jho Low will be joining the discussions,” he said, adding that he received further notes from Low. 

“Datuk Seri Najib had ordered me to China to represent him on economic matters between the two countries. However, as what Jho Low showed on his talking points and action plan, the negotiations were little more than a bailout for 1MDB’s debt to IPIC.”

Amhari said he was to get Chinese companies to buy 1MDB’s equity and take on the entity’s debts. 

He later joined Low in meeting representatives from China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC).

At the meetings, Low spoke in Mandarin and did much of the negotiation.

Amhari said the government-linked facilitator was told that Najib would like to bring in Chinese firms to invest in Malaysia via the purchase of debts of 1MDB and its former subsidiary, SRC International. 

“Najib offered Chinese-owned businesses investment in infrastructure projects while resolving 1MDB and SRC debts,” said Ahmari. 

Three projects offered to SASAC were: developing Labuan as an offshore banking and tourism hub, a oil pipleline from Port Klang to Kuala Kedah, and a Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok high-speed railway. 

Najib is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion and 21 counts of money laundering the same amount.

The 66-year-old accused is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Gopal Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge, leads the prosecution while Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah is the sitting judge. – September 4, 2019.