THE late Saudi ruler King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud offered financial assistance to Najib Razak in 2010 to fund political campaigning for the 13th general election, the high court heard today.

Former Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Syed Omar Syed Mohamad Al-Saggaf testified to having witnessed a meeting between the then prime minister and then king in Riyadh on January 11, 2010.

The meeting discussed, among others, the Arab Spring and Malaysian governance.

“At the end of the official meeting, I saw King Abdullah and Najib leave the room together and they appeared to be in deep discussion over some matter.”

“Later, after the meeting was done, I was made to understand that King Abdullah had offered financial assistance to be used by Najib to handle his political matters in the coming general election.”

Then foreign minister Anifah Aman and former Islamic affairs minister Jamil Khir were also present at the meeting, he said.

When cross-examined by ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram, however, Syed Omar said he did not hear what King Abdullah said to Najib and that he was informed of the alleged donation by Najib.

Sithambaram: I’m putting it to you that if the prime minister leading the government had in fact received donation for election purposes, it would be considered an interference in the domestic affairs of Malaysia?

Syed Omar: I don’t know.

Sithambaram: But you in your statement said that this money was for the purpose of assisting the prime minister in winning the election. Isn’t that correct?

Syed Omar: I just know that the King was going to help. This was told to me by Datuk Seri Najib. Not by the king or the palace.

Sithambaram: You saw them move away together. But you did not personally hear what they said to each other. You have no personal knowledge of the facts stated?

Syed Omar: No.

Sithambaram: It was later that you learnt of what was spoken?

Syed Omar: Yes.

Sithambaram: From whom?

Syed Omar: From Datuk Seri Najib.

Sithambaram: Whether this was true or not, you don’t know?

Syed Omar: I don’t know.

The 75-year-old witness added that there were no written agenda for that meeting as it was an informal one that preceded Najib’s official state visit which took place in January 13 to 16, 2010.

Earlier, when reading aloud his witness statement, Syed Omar said King Abdullah, who died in 2015, spoke of the Arab Spring during the informal meeting.

“The king was impressed with how Malaysia, as a Muslim (majority) country, was administrated in a moderate way. He raised some concern about the ongoing Arab Spring… on the effect of such a movement in countries such as Indonesia, southern Thailand, Pakistan, India and southern Philippines.

“The king was informed of Malaysia’s democratic system… whereby a general election was due within two or three years. King Abdullah offered his assistance to ensure that the same government continued to administrate Malaysia. I think King Abdullah was worried the effect of the Arab Spring would spill over into Southeast Asia and the resulting domino effect would ultimately affect Saudi Arabia itself.”

Najib is on trial for charges linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International in 2011 and 2012, of which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in 2014 and 2015.

He has maintained that he was under the impression that RM42 million he spent originated from donations from the Saudi Arabian royal family.  

Najib has said that the donation from the Saudi royals was to help make Malaysia a model Islamic country.

Prosecutors said the alleged donation was in fact linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd and that Najib conspired with others to defraud Malaysian taxpayers.

The 66-year-old faces up to 20 years’ jail, if convicted.

He is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. Attorney-General Tommy Thomas leads the prosecution.

The trial, before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, continues. – February 10, 2020.