KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 -- The High Court was told today that the first chief executive of Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) applied for the job through her cousin and was not required to undergo any formal job interview before landing the role.

Ung Su Ling, YR1M's chief executive from January 2013 to May last year, told the court that she applied for the foundation's top post through Dennis See, her cousin who was employed at 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) corporate social responsibility (CSR) department.

She explained how she tendered her resignation from her position as CIMB Group CEO Datuk Seri Nazir Razak's personal assistant and speechwriter in 2012, and learned at the end of the year about the formation of YR1M.

"I thought I ...