KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said he did not tell the complete truth surrounding his resignation as second finance minister in June 2016 for the reason that he wanted to cover for his then boss Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was the prime minister and finance minister one.

“I wanted to hide the true story … I wanted to cover [for] the prime minister,” Husni testified in Najib’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial in the High Court yesterday.

This was after lead defence counsel raised instances where Husni told the public, such as members of his former parliamentary constituency in Tambun, Perak that he did not resign because of SRC or its then parent company, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

From being defensive about 1MDB in the early days of the state investment fund, Husni turned increasingly vocal towards the end of his ministerial stint.

The action, he justified, was in light of his “respect towards the prime minister”.

Husni, however, disagreed with the suggestion by Najib’s defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that he left because he was unsatisfied about how 1MDB was being handled, and instead was merely concerned about the company as its predicament “could affect the economy”.

He testified that he had mulled about quitting the post since early 2015 after he was handed the role to lead the rationalisation plan of 1MDB, which had then accumulated debt of over RM40 billion.

The last straw, he said, was when Najib told him after an Economic Action Council meeting in June 2016 to move to the ministry of housing and local government — before the rationalisation plan was completed.

“I wanted to see the end of the plan … [which could be completed] in two more years,” said Husni.

“The prime minister said: ‘I want you to go to another department to face new challenges.’ So I said please drop me, said thank you, and left [his office] … yes [it was a voluntary resignation].”

‘I respect and love the PM’

The witness has also reprimanded Muhammad Shafee as being a political novice as he justified his manner of dealing with red flags in 1MDB and SRC during his stint as second finance minister.

This was after the lawyer suggested that Husni avoided collective responsibility for not raising his concerns during cabinet meetings but to the former prime minister directly.

“Honestly, I have met prime minister more than 20 times [to raise the issues regarding 1MDB and SRC],” said Husni.

He and Muhammad Shafee then went into a heated argument when Muhammad Shafee pointed out that Husni’s colleagues in the cabinet had the right to be informed of his opinion on the matter.

Muhammad Shafee: As a responsible minister of finance II, don’t you think your views should be made known to the cabinet and not just the prime minister?

Husni: As I said, I respect and love the PM. If I raised to the cabinet …

Muhammad Shafee: You don’t think cabinent members should be made aware of your view?

Husni: [There was] no need to know. To me they did not have to know. I mentioned the PM has full power, so the PM can decide. You know, in politics, people talk; what will happen to the government? I want to protect the government.

Muhammad Shafee then raised the term “collective responsibility”.

Muhammad Shafee: Do you understand the meaning of collective responsibility?

Husni: I do. In order for a group to achieve an objective, everyone in the group must work towards that objective.

Muhammad Shafee: That is not what it means. It means ...

Husni: You are not in politics. You don’t know anything.

Muhammad Shafee: It means once the cabinet decides, the cabinet is responsible. But before that … [to practice collective responsibility] you have to voice out.

Husni: That is your understanding.

Muhammad Shafee: You agree that you did not exercise collective responsibility, but you spoke to the PM.

Husni: I spoke to the PM over 20 times. If I spoke to the cabinet 20 times, what will happen?

At this point, Muhammad Shafee raised his voice and asked: “Datuk Seri, are you saying that you know how cabinet papers are prepared? Do you know that if you raise the matter in a cabinet meeting it is minuted?”

“Yang you marah pasal apa (What are you getting angry for)?” asked Husni, who noted that he knew the minutes will record the gist of any concerns raised by cabinet members in the meetings.