KUALA LUMPUR: He may have been reduced to being an office boy by his ex-boss Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but former Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah is turning out to be a tough cookie to crack in court.
He held his own despite being bombarded with a barrage of questions from Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who tried all morning to discredit the 67-year's old's testimony yesterday which had put the former prime minister in a bad light.
Despite Shafee's best attempts, Husni answered all questions put to him and even tried to go beyond was asked.
His eagerness to talk was however dampened by Shafee, who reminded him several times that "this is not Parliament".
"Here, I ask the questions and you just answer.
"Otherwise we will be here forever," he said in exasperation at one point.
However, Husni took on the sarcasm by replying in Malay: "Takpa (its okay)."
Shafee immediately retorted by saying: "Takpa for you... I have got other things to do."
The senior counsel's response had everyone, including the judge, giggling.
Earlier, Shafee put Husni through questions which touched on the latter's testimony yesterday, including his decision to resign from the Cabinet in 2016 and also the alleged instructions he (Husni) received from Najib to not get involved in 1Malaysia development Bhd (1MDB) and its subsidiary company SRC International Sdn Bhd related matters.
On his resignation, Husni said he turned up in office one day and was shocked to read a newspaper report that he was going to be transferred out of the Finance Ministry.
"It was on June 26, 2016...I remember it was a Monday and there was an Economic Council meeting scheduled on that day.
"I read the newspaper report and attended the meeting...I kept quiet throughout... After the meeting I went up to the prime minister to seek clarification.
"He confirmed it... I appealed if he could allow me to stay on as I wanted to complete a debt rationalisation plan but Najib insisted that he wanted me in another ministry," he said.
Husni said after hearing that Najib wanted him transferred to the Local Government Ministry he told the prime minister to "please drop me, thank you."
Shafee: You resigned on your own accord because you were being transferred?
Husni: Yes... although there was more to it.
Shafee: You agree that as the prime minister he has the discretion to rotate his ministers?
Husni: Yes
Shafee then questioned Husni about the press statements he made to the press after resigning.
He reminded Husni that in all the statements he made it clear that his resignation had nothing to do with 1MDB or SRC International.
"Yes... but it was only partly true.
"I said that because I wanted to cover the real story. I did not want the papers to write all kind of things and spoil the prime minister's name... I was covering the PM," he said.
Shafee then asked Husni why he did not raise his objections on matters related to SRC International in Cabinet meetings.
To this, Husni said he had spoken about his reservations with Najib directly and told the the prime minister everything that needed to be said about the company.
However, Shafee continued to push him on why he did not bring it up in the Cabinet meetings.
Husni then replied:
"Let's be honest... as a normal person you won't.
"I had spoken to him directly and told him what needed to be said... he told me to stay out.
"Therefore, there was no reason for me to bring it up anymore... I would have but in politics things are difficult."
Shafee: Have you heard about collective responsibility?
Husni: But I spoke to the PM... He has the full power. That is why I said he is an autocratic leader but you don't believe me.
Shafee: But if you had raised it as politely as possible your views would have been minuted. You would have gone down in history as someone who raised the issue.
Husni: I don't need to be in history.
Shafee: When Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (then Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department) presented the Cabinet paper on SRC International's loan request, did you participate in the discussions?
Husni: There were no discussions... It was tabled and everyone just shouted setujuuuu (agreed).
Najib, 66, is facing seven counts of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and power involving RM42 million of SRC International funds.
He faces up to 20-years' jail and fine for the offfences.