KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — A friend of the former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and fellow Umno member Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman was denied entry by the police into the former’s house on Jalan Langgak Duta here today.

The 65-year-old, from the Port Dickson Umno branch, said he had initially planned to pay Najib a visit at noon.  

"We were told we could come by 12 noon, me and some friends from the party.

"Why can’t I go in? They (the police) said no, they got some directive to not allow anyone in,” he said after being quizzed why he was denied entry.

Asked about the last time he spoke with Najib, Abdul Rahim said it was during Friday prayers last week.

"He is alright. He’s a strong man, with strong principals,” he answered when asked about the general mood shown by Najib during their meet.

Abdul Rahim, who claims to be a life-long friend of Najib’s, disagreed with the police barricade set up here and said if there was indeed offence committed, authorities should bring the case to court

"Is he under house arrest, or has he been charged?” he questioned.

"If he is guilty, charge him in court. This is a democratic country, how can they do this,” he said.

Journalists gather outside Datuk Seri Najib Razak"s home on Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur May 17, 2018. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

The arrival of Abdul Rahim offered the 20-odd reporters on site some contrast in events, as the waiting game in anticipation of the next major development continues.

From early morning, several investigators were seen entering and exiting the street leading up to Najib’s private residence, a street cordoned off entirely to the public.

As the search for documents passed the 12-hour mark, tight security and equally tight-lipped authorities offered scant details surrounding investigations.  

This comes as a police source had revealed a team of investigators said to be from a specially-formed unit to investigate the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, had raided Najib’s home at around 9pm last night.

The team arrived in more than 10 police cars, as separate crews were said to have held simultaneous raids at the Pavilion Residences condominium linked to Najib.

Najib’s lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal had said this morning that investigators were possibly probing a money-laundering case.

He had said no documents were seized yet, and that only personal items such as apparels, handbags, and several boxes of presents were taken.

Harpal was seen being driven into the home of Najib at around 12.15pm this afternoon, but did not stop for reporters who swamped his Mercedes Benz.