KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan thought 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was established to raise political funds for Barisan Nasional as the matter was discussed at Cabinet meetings, the High Court here heard.

       To a question by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, the witness said there was a discussion at the Cabinet meeting where ministers were encouraged to propose how 1MDB funds would be used to finance projects in their constituencies.

       When asked during the ongoing 1MDB trial how he concluded that 1MDB funds were for political purposes, Mohd Sidek said "because all the ministers at that time were Barisan members".

       Sri Ram: The Cabinet isn't supposed to discuss political parties.

       Mohd Sidek: I was a civil servant through and through. Government policy is the policy of the party in power, (whether) it is a single party or a coalition of parties in the government. You can't really differentiate the two.

       Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is on trial for 25 charges: four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.

       The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Wednesday (June 8) afternoon.

       More to come