Why was Mohd Sidek Hassan appointed to the 1MDB advisory board?

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Mohd Sidek Hassan Believed His 1MDB Advisory Board Appointment Was Due to Perceived Low Salary as Chief Secretary

Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, who served as the Chief Secretary to the Government from September 2006 to June 2012, testified that he believed his appointment to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) board of advisers was initiated by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Sidek Hassan stated that Najib Razak felt his salary as Chief Secretary to the Government was insufficient, and the advisory role provided an additional income that was initially RM30,000 per month. He was testifying as the 19th prosecution witness in Najib's trial concerning the alleged misappropriation of over RM2 billion in 1MDB funds.
Appointment Process and Initial Terms

Najib Razak appointed Sidek Hassan to the 1MDB board of advisers through an undated letter. This appointment was formally communicated to Sidek Hassan via a letter from 1MDB dated August 30, 2010. The correspondence indicated his immediate inclusion and welcomed him to attend the board of advisers' annual meetings, which were to be chaired by the prime minister. Sidek Hassan received a monthly advisory fee of RM30,000, commencing from July 1, 2010, as detailed in the August 30, 2010 letter signed by then 1MDB CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.
Lack of Involvement and Meetings

Despite his position on the advisory board, Sidek Hassan confirmed he was never invited to, nor did he attend, any of the annual meetings. He also asserted that he had never requested the appointment from either the prime minister or 1MDB. Furthermore, Sidek Hassan stated he was not involved in any discussions or meetings pertaining to 1MDB's issues or investment matters. The company's management and board of directors did not report to him on any operational aspects, nor did they provide any briefings or engage in meetings with him following his appointment.
Changes in Remuneration and Service Extension

Sidek Hassan received the RM30,000 monthly advisory fee from July 2010 until December 2012. Subsequently, his remuneration was reduced to RM10,000 per month, a rate that continued from January 2013 until June 2015. After his retirement as Chief Secretary to the Government on June 23, 2012, a letter from 1MDB, signed by Shahrol, informed him of an extension of his service with the reduced monthly fee of RM10,000, effective from January 2013. Sidek Hassan indicated he did not solicit this extension and was unaware of the rationale behind its continuation post-retirement.
Dissolution of the Board

Sidek Hassan's tenure with 1MDB concluded when he received a letter dated May 31, 2016, signed by Najib Razak, announcing the dissolution of the 1MDB board of advisers. He did not receive any payments from 1MDB after June 2015 and did not inquire about the cessation of these payments. Sidek Hassan also stated that the dissolution letter did not provide reasons for the board's disbandment, and he had not sought clarification from Najib Razak or 1MDB regarding this matter. All payments received were declared to the Inland Revenue Board for tax purposes.

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Why was Mohd Sidek Hassan appointed to the 1MDB advisory board?

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