KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan told the High Court that he believed 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was established to raise political funds for Barisan Nasional because a Cabinet meeting had discussed the matter.

       Ministers were encouraged to propose how 1MDB funds would be used to fund projects in their constituencies at an unspecified Cabinet meeting, the witness said.

       Mohd Sidek, 71, was under a re-examination by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in the RM2.28bil 1MDB trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

       When asked how he concluded that the 1MDB funds were for politics, Mohd Sidek said “because all of the ministers at that time were Barisan members.”

       Sri Ram: The Cabinet (meeting) 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, maybe it is a single party or a coalition of parties in the government. You can’t really differentiate (between) the two.

       On Tuesday, Mohd Sidek said in his witness statement that to his understanding, 1MDB was established for the purpose of political funds for the ruling party at the time, which was Barisan.

       However, the witness said he had never asked Najib or anyone in 1MDB about the problems that the company was facing.

       During the re-examination, the witness was also asked about Najib’s relationship with one “Jho Low”, referring to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.

       Sri Ram: In 2010, to the best of your knowledge, did the accused reveal his relationship with a person called Jho Low at Cabinet meetings?

       Mohd Sidek: I cannot recall that.

       Najib 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 today.