Why did Cheah Tek Kuang not question Najib about the donation?

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Cheah Tek Kuang Did Not Question Najib About the Donation Due to Fear

Cheah Tek Kuang, the former group managing director of AmBank, testified that he did not dare to ask Datuk Seri Najib Razak further questions about a US$100 million "donation" from Saudi Arabia. Najib had volunteered this information to Cheah in 2011 when the former prime minister was arranging to open a new personal account with AmIslamic Bank.
Najib Volunteered Information on Donation

Cheah Tek Kuang stated that Najib Razak initiated the discussion about the US$100 million, describing it as a donation from Saudi Arabia intended for his "Islamic activity." This information was provided voluntarily by Najib when Cheah visited his residence to facilitate the account opening. Cheah reiterated that Najib volunteered this detail, and he did not prompt the former prime minister for such specifics.
Hesitation to Question the Prime Minister

When questioned by lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Cheah confirmed that he did not ask Najib any follow-up questions regarding the source or nature of the funds. Cheah explicitly stated his reason for this reticence: "I dare not ask him any more questions." This sentiment highlights the perceived authority and influence of Najib, who held the positions of Prime Minister and Finance Minister at the time.
Information Shared with Bank Negara

Despite his reluctance to question Najib directly, Cheah did inform the then-governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, about the expected US$100 million donation. Cheah explained that he felt it was proper to inform the central bank governor due to Najib's status as a politically exposed person and the national interests involved. He shared that he told Zeti that the Prime Minister was to receive US$100 million from Saudi royalty, to which the governor responded that the account could be opened as long as all rules were followed.

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Why did Cheah Tek Kuang not question Najib about the donation?

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