KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told that it was the culture in the troubled sovereign state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) for one to quit the company if they do not follow orders.
This came from prosecution witness Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman who once held 1MDB’s top post as the CEO circa 2013.
Hazem was questioned on his witness statement where he said he did not dare to be truthful about 1MDB’s acquisition plans because he feared his career would be jeopardised if he did not support Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was the prime minister at that time.
In his statement, Hazem spoke of an email thread with instructions from fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or better known as Jho Low, in relation to the acquisition of Genting Sanyen and Tanjong Energy power plants by 1MDB.
He and other colleagues were ordered to add on to Low’s answers to the acquisition controversy, raised by the Opposition, to make it more convincing.
“Whatever personal view you have, the acquisition (plans) is rather expensive. Those were all the questions that were highlighted by the public particularly the Opposition (at) that time.
“You have to follow, you have to give responses that will be acceptable to the public and not the reality of it,” the witness said during cross-examination by lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed on Monday (Feb 8).
Hazem said he did not go against the instructions in the email because “Jho Low ran the company”.
Wan Aizuddin: So you don’t want to offend Jho Low?
Hazem: Not that I don’t want to offend but if I was opposing, that would be jeopardising my career.
The witness said he would normally raise his frustrations about the company to Low in their Blackberry Messenger chats.
One of the frustrations that was raised was the high-cost in the proposal to acquire a YTL power plant.
“I think the amount that was thrown, in my opinion, was very expensive and I said this could take 1MDB in bad light again,” he added.
Wan Aizuddin: When was this?
Hazem: Roughly 2012 – 2013 when I was the COO.
Wan Aizuddin: Am I right to say in spite of all this, you were still promoted to CEO?
Hazem: Yes.
Wan Aizuddin: So there is no danger to your career in 1MDB.
Hazem: I think I’m highlighting the frustration but despite that, you need to follow the instruction (from Low). This was the culture of course, no one said it, but if you work in any company, if youre not happy with the boss, you quit.
Wan Aizuddin: You dont have to follow Jho Lows instructions carte blanche, you can voice your concerns.
Hazem: As CEO if you dont do what is asked, you leave.
Wan Aizuddin: But you are the CEO calling the shots, how can you take instructions?
Hazem: In 1MDB, it was like that.
Najib, 68, is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.28bil in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
The hearing before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Tuesday (Feb 9).
