Two lawyers of Najib Razak have quit on him the night before the former prime minister of Malaysia is due to give a statement to the anti-corruption commission.

Lawyer Harpal Singh Grewal, who has been appearing more in the media since the May 9 election, confirmed the matter after he left Najib's home at Taman Duta in Kuala Lumpur at 10.40pm on Monday, May 21.

The other lawyer who has left is M Athimulan.

Najib engaged more lawyers

Harpal said the decision came after Najib’s decision to engage a team of lawyers.

They include former solicitor-general Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden and six other lawyers .

Harpal told media they withdrew themselves from representing Najib: “We were not dismissed. We withdrew after tonight’s discussion.”

Harpal said his decision to withdraw came from his "respect" for Najib's wishes and that it was "difficult to work with any other team".

Najib presents himself at anti-corruption agency

Najib's home as well as several residences linked to him have been raided in investigations into allegations of fraud and corruption at 1MDB.

Najib has since presented himself on Tuesday, May 22 at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya.

He is expected to give a statement in a probe into a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal linked to debt-ridden state development fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

A Council of Eminent Persons, appointed by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, had announced the setting up of a special task force to look into possible criminal conduct of individuals involved in the management of 1MDB.

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Top photo by Supian Ahmad