Najib Razak has brushed aside suggestions that his wife, Rosmah Mansor, schooled him on how to run the country during his tenure as prime minister.
At a press conference after the SRC International hearing today, Najib denied a reporter’s suggestion that his wife scolded him over a 2016 phone conversation relating to the appointment of former MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad.
“There is no scolding, conversations between my wife and I are private; you also speak to your wife, what’s wrong with that?” he told reporters outside the court.
Najib stressed that it was normal and within the right of any couple to discuss their daily affairs over the phone, as long as the conversation does not get leaked to the public.
“No, no, no, everyone can give their views there is no problem, but I make the final decision,” said Najib when quizzed on whether he was getting an earful from his spouse on how to run the country as the recordings had suggested.
“We were discussing everyday affairs and all. It’s a normal thing,” added the Pekan MP who was accompanied by his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
On another suggestion that the phone conversation released today appeared as though she was discussing national affairs and telling him how to run the government, Najib replied: “Everyone can give their opinion. But I make the decisions.”
On whether the audio clips of his phone conversations can be used against him in his ongoing trials, Najib replied: “We will study it first, maybe some of the content might be useful for us in our defence.”
Earlier reports:
Jan 8, Rosmah Leaves It to Lawyers to Look into Damning MACC Audio Clip
Jan 8, It Was Najib’s Government That Made Wiretapping Legal
Jan 8, Najib Shocked by Release of Audio Clips, Mulling Suit Against MACC and Latheefa
Jan 8, After Release of MACC Audio Clips, Najib and Rosmah Could Face More Charges
Jan 8, MACC Audio Recording: Frantic Najib Pleads with UAE Crown Prince to Help Riza Aziz
Jan 8, Rosmah Tells Najib: Darling, Take Charge, You’re PM
Jan 8, Dzulkifli and Azeez Appear to Discuss 1MDB Probe, Tabung Haji Link in MACC Tapes
Jan 8, Ex-MACC Chief Dzulkifly Conspired with Najib, Others over 1MDB
Jan 8, MACC Releases ‘Explosive’ Audio Clips of Alleged Conspiracy Involving Najib