Najib advised not to attend IACC conference - Paul Low

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was advised not to attend the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Putrajaya on Friday for security reasons, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Paul Low.

He said Najib was also advised against attending the conference as the participants might not welcome him following several issues involving the premier lately.

Low said Najib’s attendance might invite negative talks.

“Based on my experience as former president of Transparency International Malaysia, I anticipate a tense conference.

"So, as a minister, I advised him on how the situation would be if he were to attend it. But what I (see) here is that the crowd is quite civil,” Low said at a press conference today.

“For security reasons and the situation which may arise, I said that I will take over his place,” he said.

Low said his speech is based on what he felt is right as the minister responsible for the portfolio and denied dictation from any quarters.

Najib was earlier scheduled to deliver his keynote address and open the conference. Low will now represent the prime minister.

IACC is an international conference which discusses on ways to fight graft in the countries involved.

More than 1,000 participants from 130 countries will attend the conference.