PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak was advised not to attend the opening of the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) due to possible “hostile” environment.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan said the prime minister was initially scheduled to deliver his keynote address at the three-day conference, which began today.

“As a minister, I had to make to the call and advise him against attending the event.

He said he was from Transparency International and he knew the conference would be a hostile environment for Najib.

“This is unlike any other meeting… You have fearless activists and the environment may turn hostile.

“I said to him, whatever it is, I’m going in and if you want to attend, by all means.

“Because of this, he was advised in terms of security and atmosphere.

It’s better if I take his slot,” Low said, in response to questions from the floor during one of the workshop sessions.

Low, later, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of conference today. ends

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