00:00Datuk Sri Najib Razak told the High Court on Wednesday that he had the authority to approve
00:08appointments to the board of SRC International Sandirian Burhat, but that the nominations did
00:14not originate from him. The former Prime Minister, who served as SRC's advisor emeritus, acknowledged
00:21that he had veto power over the appointment and removal of directors, but maintained that he was
00:26the last part of the process. Najib was testifying under cross-examination by SRC's lawyer Kwan Will
00:34Cern as the sole defendant in a 42 million ringgit lawsuit filed by SRC against him. He was shown a
00:42letter regarding the appointments of SRC directors, including Nick Faisal Arif Kamil, who became
00:48managing director. Najib agreed that he approved the names as recommended, but insisted he did not
00:54initiate them and did not know the nominees personally. On Nick Faisal's appointment, Najib said
01:00he was not familiar with him, although he was recommended as suitably qualified. Nick Faisal,
01:07a former SRC director and CEO, is currently at large. The court had previously heard that Nick Faisal
01:15was a mandate holder on one of Najib's bank accounts. Najib was also referred to Article 116A
01:22of SRC's Memorandum and Articles of Association, M&A, which states that any amendment to the M&A or the
01:32appointment or removal of directors and top management requires the Prime Minister's approval.
01:38SRC and its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sendiri and Burhard filed the lawsuit in 2021, seeking a
01:45court declaration that Najib is liable for the receipt of 42 million ringgit, as well as damages for
01:51knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, misfeasance and abuse of power. The companies previously removed
01:57six directors from the suit, including Tanshri Ismay Ismail, Datuk Subomad Yassin and Datuk
02:04Shahrul Azrael Ibrahim Halmi, leaving Najib as the sole defendant. The High Court, however,
02:10allowed Najib to issue third-party notices against them. The hearing before Justice Raja
02:15Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan, resumes on January 21st.
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