Temperature arose as Husni is grilled by Shafee
KUALA LUMPUR: Temperature rose in the courtroom as former second finance minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah was grilled by lead defence lawyer, Shafee Abdullah.
Husni became annoyed as he was constantly cut off by Shafee. The lawyer himself appeared to be getting agitated at the witness.
Shafee had questioned the lack of records to show that Husni objected to the cabinet’s approval on matters related to SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Shafee: You could have raised your objections (in cabinet).
Husni: I could, but you know, in politics, things are different.
Shafee: Let’s not go there.
Husni: It’s hard if I can’t be allowed to talk because there is always a ‘why’.
Shafee: Don’t you think your views should be made known to the whole cabinet? Not only the prime minister.
Husni: …If I raise it in the cabinet meeting, then the perception is different. I have spoken to the prime minister and the prime minister has full power, he can decide. No need for me to talk in the cabinet. As an ordinary person, you won’t do it.
Shafee: You don’t think your fellow colleagues in the cabinet should know?
Husni: No need to know, to me, they don’t need to know. As I mentioned, the prime minister has full power, he can decide. You know, in politics, people talk here and there, and what will happen to the government?
Shafee: You know collective responsibility?
Husni: You are not in politics; you don’t know anything.
Shafee even raised his voice at Husni during a series of questions and Husni shot back: “Why are you angry at me? I’ve known you for a long time.”
Earlier on he admitted in court that he lied about his reasons to quit the Cabinet in 2016.
Shafee: When you made the statement that you resigned and wanted to end your career as minister, you said you did not resign because of SRC International and 1MDB?
Husni: You want me to respect the PM or not? Out of respect to the press, I mentioned that it had nothing to do [with SRC International or 1MDB].
Shafee: Did you not tell the press and those in your constituency that you resigned not because of 1MDB or SRC International, did you say that?
Husni: I said that.
Shafee: But, to most of the media, you said that it had nothing to do with 1MDB and SRC International, correct?
Husni: Yes
Shafee: When you said that, were you telling the truth?
Husni: Part of the truth.
Shafee: Part is untrue?
Husni: No, no, I said that I wanted to cover the real story. I apologise Yang Arif. I don’t want to tell the true story to newspapers, and I said I quit voluntarily, that will spoil the name of the PM.
Shafee: It doesn’t matter what motivation you had, but when you told the public, you were not telling the truth?
Husni: I am not telling the truth because I want to cover for the PM.
Husni was testifying in the trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is facing seven charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and power abuse involving RM42 million of SRC International’s funds.
