: A former Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general told the High Court today the issuance of a government letter of support to secure a US$3 billion loan for the joint venture between 1Malaysia Development Berhad and Aabar Investment BVI Co was done in haste.
“There was no current assessment on the joint-venture investment. In fact, there was none, nothing for us to do due diligence,” she said during re-examination by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’sThe US$3 billion loan was approved by the government via a support letter signed by Najib, who was Finance Minister back in 2013.
“However, I did approach Finance Minister II but he did not want to get involved. I cannot bypass my bosses to go to the PM. It is also not the practice for an officer to go directly to the PM,” she said.