NAJIB Razak today said that he is now left without a defence counsel after his lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik was not given time by the Federal Court to prepare for his trial.

The former prime minister said that his new lawyers had indicated that they were unwilling to continue with the proceedings because they had very limited time to prepare for the appeal.

“I’m now left in effect and reality, without a defence counsel and that is the most unfortunate part and I’m not able to present my defence, and I believe I have a strong and credible defence.

“I wish to record my objections in the strongest of terms in the appeal proceedings today where my rights, life and liberty and right to a fair hearing is at stake,” he told reporters after proceedings today.