FORMER foreign minister Anifah Aman assured Najib Razak in 2010 that accepting the Saudi royal family’s offer of a donation was legal, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today.

Anifah, who was present at Najib’s meeting with King Abdullah Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh in January 2010, did not object to the donation when told about it by the then prime minister.

The 66-year-old, who is the sixth defence witness, told the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial that he saw Najib in a private conversation with the late king towards the end of the informal meeting.

“Najib then asked me for my opinion on the financial donation being transferred to his personal bank account.

“I assured him that it did not matter since the donation was to be used for CSR (corporate social responsibility) and political purposes, and it has been a common practice in Umno for the president to be personally in charge of most of the political funds.”

Also present at the meeting were then Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Syed Omar Al-Saggaf and Islamic affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom.

Anifah testified that towards the end of the meet, he saw Najib and King Abdullah “walk towards the middle of the meeting room for a confidential dialogue”.

Beside them were the king’s translator and Jamil, he said.

“As we were exiting, the prime minister sought clarification from Jamil regarding the confidential dialogue between him and King Abdullah, whether he was correct in understanding that King Abdullah preferred the donation to be transferred into Najib’s personal bank account.

“I took note of this seriously as Najib was talking to both of us simultaneously. Jamil confirmed the accuracy of the prime minister’s understanding.”

Anifah said “it was understood” that the Saudi ruler did not want the contribution to be vaguely disbursed, which could cause problems in the payment process.

“Putting the money in the personal account of the prime minister would bring about easier controls.”

He said he learnt that King Abdullah had allegedly intended to provide financial aid for Najib’s political needs.

“King Abdullah was an ardent supporter of Najib as he was impressed with the Malaysian government, which had been able to maintain Malaysia as a moderate Muslim country.

“On this basis, the financial aid was meant to consolidate the government’s stability (and) prevent the unhealthy influence of extremism.

“King Abdullah took note of the fact that Malaysia would face its next general election imminently (in 2013), and was anxious (for) Najib to receive all the support that His Majesty could provide.”

Days after the meeting, on January 16, 2010, King Abdullah conferred Najib the King Abdulaziz Order of Merit (1st Class) at the Riyadh Conference Palace.

As Malaysian delegates were leaving after the ceremony, said Anifah, Najib admired paintings of Arabian stallions in the palace’s walkway.

“The prime minister commented on the beauty of Arabian horses. King Abdullah took heed of his comment and offered the prime minister one of the many prized stallions that he possessed.

“Najib politely declined the offer as he does not ride horses.

“The offer was clearly a manifestation of the close relations between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.”

Najib faces seven criminal charges for receiving RM42 million in SRC International funds between December 2014 and February 2015. The 66-year-old maintains that he was under the impression that the sum came from Saudi royals.

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

Najib is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. Attorney-General Tommy Thomas heads the prosecution before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali. – February 13, 2020.