Former deputy chief secretary to the Cabinet Mazidah Abdul Majid said Najib’s remark was recorded in the minutes of the Cabinet meeting on Sept 8, 2010.

“The prime minister said he was holding informal engagements at the time with several parties in Middle East countries and that they had responded positively to issues related to Malaysia’s interests.

“The prime minister also informed the meeting that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud had agreed to contribute to Yayasan 1MDB from His Royal Highness’ charity foundation.

“His Royal Highness had requested that this contribution be kept a secret,” she said.

Mazidah testified that Najib told the Cabinet that with this contribution, Yayasan 1MDB could conduct more corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities for those in need.

“Cabinet members then gave their views on what kind of CSR activities 1MDB could undertake,” she added.

The witness also told the court that Najib had informed the Cabinet that there was a need to be more “creative” in finding other sources of funds.

“The Cabinet members thus agreed with the prime minister’s suggestion to keep the ‘contribution’ under wraps,” Mazidah said.

Previously, former 1MDB chief executive Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi had testified that he received four cheques made out to Yayasan 1MDB, totalling US$100 million in September 2010.

He added that the cheques were passed to him by Low Taek Jho and he was told not to do anything with them.

Shahrol said before he left 1MDB in March 2013, he gave the cheques to the company’s finance department for safekeeping.

The hearing continues before High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Najib is on trial for 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over funds amounting to RM2.28 billion which were deposited into his bank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.