FORMER finance minister II Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he was merely following orders when he signed documents relating to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Husni said that all documents relating to 1MDB and its subsidiary SRC International had gone through then finance minister Najib Razak before they landed on his desk.

“1MDB and SRC don’t follow normal procedure,” Husni told the court under cross examination by Najib’s lawyer Shafee Abdullah.

“All letters from 1MDB will go to the minister of finance, then it will be passed to an officer then it lands on my desk.”

When Shafee asked why he had signed them, Husni said he was “menurut perintah”, or following orders.

“I have to, ‘saya yang menurut perintah’. It came from the minister of finance, you must understand that these two projects did not follow procedures like other companies in Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

“It all comes from the top,” Husni replied testily.

The lawyer asked if the prosecution’s witness if had received explicit instructions to sign the documents. Husni said no, he did not.

“There was no written instructions. I told him (Najib) from the start he should not start 1MDB, but he didn’t listen. So I knew he had the power. I had known him very well for 40 years, it’s my instinct.”

Husni, 70, was finance minister II from April 2009 until his resignation in June 2016,

He was testifying for the prosecution today in the case against Najib, who is charged with the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion of 1MDB funds.

Najib faces four charges of abuse of power and 21 of money laundering, allegedly committed between 2011 and 2013.

Husni had previously testified that Najib had told him not to get involved in 1MDB and SRC matters.

Husni said he met with Najib in mid-2009 at the Prime Minister’s Office to voice his concern about the the setting up of 1MDB through the federal government’s acquisition of Terengganu state-owned Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA).

Husni said he had told Najib that the project should not be undertaken without a feasibility study, but that prime minister Najib had pressed ahead nonethless.

During the SRC trial, Husni had compared himself to an office boy when it came to matters pertaining to the sovereign wealth fund.

His session with Shafee today had got off badly from the start, with Husni accusing the lawyer of not listening to him and Shafee firing back that the witness was arrogant.

“Don’t quarrel with me, I’m asking you the question and don’t be arrogant!” Shafee said in a raised voice.

“I promised my learned friend I’ll take half a day, but it looks like I’ll take three days. Advise the witness to answer the questions. He is bringing the same attitude he brought to SRC.”

Husni replied that he was not arrogant.

“I’m not quarrelling with you, and I’m not arrogant. Even if it takes one year (to cross-examine me), also no problem,” Husni retorted.

At this point, judge Colin Lawrence Sequerah stepped in and called for a break.

After the break, Shafee asked Husni about the special rights and removable shares in 1MDB’s memorandums and articles of association that allowed MOF Inc to appoint 25% of the board of directors (BOD).

Husni said he didn’t know why MOF Inc did not send its officers to be part of the BOD as was the usual practice for its companies.

“Yes, there should be (representatives from MOF Inc). Ask the minister of finance, I do not know why (there weren’t any).” – June 22, 2022.