Testifying in his defence to charges of abuse of power and money laundering, Najib said Husni’s claim of being sidelined in 1MDB matters was “untrue”.

“He was someone that I personally selected to serve as second finance minister and Umno treasurer. To hear accusations from someone I entrusted with an important role is painful,” said Najib.

The former prime minister also said he was “disappointed” when Husni tendered his resignation from Cabinet.

Husni was second finance minister from 2009 until his resignation in 2016.

Asked by defence counsel Shafee Abdullah why Husni had appeared angry in court, Najib said: “I can only believe it was because I wanted to transfer him to other ministries. He wanted to remain as second finance minister.”

He said Husni might also have been unhappy because a highway project in which his son Khalid was involved did not go through.

“The system doesn’t allow you to accede to everyone’s requests. You are always blamed for everything,” said Najib.

Najib is standing trial on 25 counts of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.

The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.