Eight MACC officers in two cars arrived at Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s home in Jalan Langgak Duta at about 4pm.
Bloomberg had earlier reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was considering probing Najib for abuse of power.
The report said that the MACC laid out in recent days a comprehensive list detailing the potential scope of investigations into 1MDB, according to people who have seen the document. Examples of potential abuse of power by the former prime minister that the agency identified include witness suppression and the blocking of a central bank criminal case.
Reportedly, MACC officers served Najib with a notice to be present at the MACC headquarters on Tuesday (May 22).
The officers left the house at around 5.45pm.
Today, Najib received all kinds of visitors, including odd ones such as the Umno member who wanted Najib’s advice if he should remain with the party.
Aliff Tafiq, Bandar Bukit Jalil Umno Youth chief came with two of his friends to seek advice from the former Umno president but was barred from entering Najib’s residence.
“I don’t want to leave Umno, but we heard that Umno may be outlawed, so it is better for us to leave first,” he told reporters outside Najib’s compound.
“I want to know what is his advice, whether (for us) to stay or follow our own path,” he said.
He added that some 2,000 Umno members at Bandar Tun Razak and NGOs had been offered the chance to join another party.
He, however, refused to say which party had made the offer.
He said he also came to show support for Najib, whom he believed was the scapegoat in a political tussle between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim.
“Fact is, Najib has no problem with Mahathir. Only Mahathir has a problem with Anwar,” he said.
Gabungan Gerakan NGO Selangor chairman Nazilah Idris told reporters after a one-hour visit to Najib’s house that the former Umno president was in high spirits despite the ongoing police presence and investigation conducted against him in his home.
“He is doing well. He is a very strong and high spirited leader. I request justice be granted to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, please don’t treat him like how (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim) was treated,” said an emotional and dramatic Nazilah who was sobbing while speaking to the press.
“He treated the police at his house well and he never obstructed them.
“Normally if people are guilty or feel guilty, they won’t be so calm,” she told reporters.
Nazilah said that she did not see Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
She also defended Najib, whom authorities are investigating over links to 1MDB, saying he was an “aristocrat” who had been wealthy even before he became prime minister.
“Why do we want to question the jewellery and bags he has?
“Anyone can buy and wear such brands. There is no need to make it an issue or link it to 1MDB.”
“He’s the son of a Prime Minister. He is nobility. He was a Prime Minister and Pahang Mentri Besar when he was only 30 years old. I think if you look into the homes of other wealthy people, you will find similar items in similar numbers as well,” said the staunch Najib supporter.
However, in a statement a few years ago Najib’s own brother Datuk Seri Nazir Razak denied that his late father and Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak was a man of great wealth and the family did not have a lot to inherit.
Other visitors included former ministers Azalina Othman, Mahdzir Khalid and Aziz Karpawi. None of them spoke to the media.
At around 3.45pm, four police cars left Najib’s house with a mystery box – a blue plastic box that was seen loaded into one of the cars.
The four vehicles had arrived at the house at around 9.15am.
The contents of the box are unknown and it is still unclear if the safe that police have been trying to crack since first entering the residence has been opened.
Najib returned home at 3pm – just in time to beat the thunderstorm that broke shortly – after heading out in a white Toyota Vellfire under police escort for Friday prayers at a mosque near the Putra World Trade Centre at 12.50pm.
Dressed in a plain lavender baju Melayu paired with dark slacks and a black songkok, he was seen greeting members of the congregation who included his former deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein and Annuar Musa.
Najib, who refused to speak to reporters, later entered a room with other Umno leaders.
At 1.10pm, lawyer M Puravalen left Najib house. He said he represented Rosmah, but he did not respond to a question on which case he was representing her for.
Earlier reports:
May 18, The Full List of First Items Seized, Speculation of 100Kg Gold Bars, RM100M Cash
May 18, Astounding Haul!
May 17, The Marathon Search at Najib’s Home Continues
May 17, Police Search Five Premises Linked to Najib
May 14, Police Cordon Off Entrance and Exit to Najib’s Private Residence
May 12, Purported Bid to Hide Rosmah’s Alleged RM10M Birkin Collection