The former prime minister said he planned to thank the late King Abdullah personally rather than in writing.

“A letter can easily fall into the wrong hands,” Najib said when asked by lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin why he did not send a thank-you note to the late ruler or the Saudi royal family.

Testifying during re-examination in his 1MDB case, Najib said he received US$20 million in 2011 from “Prince Faisal”, whom he claimed was a member of the same royal family.

He also said he did not press Faisal about the delay in receipt of the promised financial assistance.

“It is up to them when they want to deliver (it). The letter doesn’t say when (the funds would be deposited),” he added.

Husni pledged support for me in 2018, says Najib

Najib also testified that former Cabinet colleague Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah returned to pledge his support.

He insisted that Husni, who served as second finance minister, resigned in 2016 because he was unhappy about a proposed transfer to another ministry.

“He (Husni) felt that he could contribute as a (Barisan Nasional) candidate for Tambun (in the 2018 general election),” said Najib.

Husni was fielded by Barisan Nasional in the contest for the Tambun parliamentary seat but lost to Ahmad Faizal Azumu of Bersatu, which was a component of Pakatan Harapan at the time.

“After he lost he suddenly turned sour,” said Najib.

Najib is charged with 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 before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.