4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Ex-foundation CEO learned of funds in Najib's account from news reports
KUALA LUMPUR: A former chief executive of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia said she only learned from news reports that money meant for corporate social responsibility projects had been transferred into Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal bank accounts.
Ung Su Ling, testifying in a lawsuit against the former prime minister, said she received instructions from Najib's former aide on the transfer of RM42 million.
She said Najib's former principal private secretary, Datuk Azlin Alias, had instructed her to tell Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB) managing director Datuk Seri Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman where to send the funds.
Ung said she was told the money would be transferred into an IPSB bank account.
"At the time, I had no knowledge of how the funds were used. I only ensured I followed Azlin's instructions for Shamsul to transfer the RM42 million into the '880' and '906' AmBank accounts," she said.
"However, based on media reports and the judgment in Najib's SRC criminal case, I now understand those accounts were his personal bank accounts."
The money did not belong to YR1M, she said. The foundation had provided grants and funding to IPSB for community programmes as part of the 1Malaysia initiative.
When asked by Najib's lawyer, Muhammad Farhan Shafee, if she had verified the source and purpose of the funds before passing on the instructions, Ung said she saw no need to seek further details.
"It is not my place... If you were to give money to someone, it is not my place to enquire, right?"
The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by SRC International and its subsidiary, Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd, claims Najib committed a breach of trust, misused his power, and personally benefited from the company's funds.
The companies are seeking RM42 million from Najib.
The hearing continues on Sept 8.
