Testifying in SRC’s suit against him and former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil for wrongful receipt and conversion of company property for their own use, Najib told the High Court his affidavit had been “badly drafted”.

Najib sued Ling in 2015 over the former MCA president’s claim that the RM2.6 billion “donation” was “the people’s money” which Najib had “taken”. The suit was withdrawn in 2018.

In the affidavit dated Oct 30, 2015, Najib had purportedly “admitted” that a “personal donation” of US$700 million and another sum of RM42 million which originated from SRC had been channelled into his account by Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd without his knowledge.

Asked by lawyer Lim Chee Wee in cross-examination whether the statement “in its plain and ordinary meaning” was an admission that he had received SRC funds, Najib said: “I was misled. It (the affidavit) was badly drafted.”

Asked who could have misled him, Najib said: “I don’t know, it was drafted for me and I signed it.”

I didn’t stop Husni going to Switzerland, says Najib

Najib also denied preventing ex-Cabinet colleague Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah from going to Switzerland in an attempt to recover 1MDB funds frozen by the Swiss authorities over suspicions of money laundering.

He said Husni needed to prepare Cabinet papers to justify the trip.

Lim: Did you (as then finance minister) prepare Cabinet papers for Husni to go and investigate?

Najib: The SRC board (of directors) had gone to BSI Bank to investigate and they were satisfied with what they discovered.

Lim also asked Najib whether he had made any inquiries with foreign and local investigators about the frozen funds.

“I didn’t ask because I know the investigations are complex,” Najib said in reply.

The hearing continues on Oct 16 before Justice Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin.