The palace had expressed concerns over the role played by businessman Low Taek Jho in the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA) which later became 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the High Court heard today in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s corruption trial.
Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah read out excerpts from the minutes of the second TIA meeting that was held on June 30, 2009, in the Parliament building, including Istana Negara’s views.
“Wakil Istana Negara mempersoalkan siapa dan peranan Encik Jho Low. Pihak Istana Negara khuatir ada pihak yang telah menyalahgunakan nama SPB Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Shafee read aloud the meeting minutes written in Bahasa Malaysia.
(Translation: Istana Negara representative questioned who and what role Jho Low has. Istana Negara is worried that there are quarters that have misused the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.)
At that time, Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin was the country’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Shafee noted that Najib’s former special officer Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin was recorded as present in the meeting where Low’s role was raised. – MMO