Asia Pacific / Politics | ANALYSIS Jul 29, 2020
Conviction of Malaysia's Najib Razak bolsters current leader's hopes of staying on
by Hadi Azmi, Philip J. Heijmans and Anisah Shukry
The court decision could bolster Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s political capital at a time when his administration controls a razor-thin majority in parliament.
Asia Pacific / Politics Jul 26, 2020
Malaysia faces crucial graft test as Najib’s first 1MDB verdict looms
Malaysian former prime minister Najib Razak, fighting dozens of charges over a multi-billion-dollar graft scandal at state fund 1MDB, faces his first verdict on Tuesday in a landmark case that tests the country's efforts to stamp out corruption and could have big political implications. Najib ...
Business Nov 1, 2019
In record deal, U.S. to recoup $1 billion from Malaysian fugitive Jho Low
The U.S. Justice Department has struck a deal to recoup $1 billion in funds allegedly looted from a Malaysian state investment fund by fugitive financier Jho Low, in a record capture for a U.S. anti-corruption probe. U.S. authorities say about $4.5 billion was siphoned from ...
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal Oct 23, 2019
Malaysia privately discusses Goldman Sachs penalty of $2 billion over 1MDB scandal
Again and again, Malaysia has publicly demanded Goldman Sachs pay an eye-popping $7.5 billion for its role in the 1MDB scandal. But privately, Malaysian negotiators are considering settling for a fraction of that. Representatives for Malaysia have discussed figures of around $2 billion to $3 ...
Asia Pacific Dec 5, 2018
Malaysian fugitive Jho Low and four others hit with fresh 1MDB charges
Malaysian police filed fresh criminal charges and issued arrest warrants for fugitive financier Low Taek Jho and four others wanted in connection with a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, officials said on Wednesday. Low, popularly known as Jho Low, has been identified by Malaysian ...
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal Jul 5, 2018
The cover-up: Malaysian officials reveal just how much 1MDB probe was obstructed
The government of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak spent years systematically obstructing probes into the alleged looting of state fund 1MDB while also ruthlessly muzzling critics, according to current and former government officials. They said the meddling in the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption ...
Asia Pacific Jun 29, 2018
Malaysia freezes bank accounts of Najib's party in 1MDB probe
Malaysia's anti-graft agency has frozen bank accounts of the political party once led by former premier Najib Razak as part of its probe into beleaguered state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, media reported on Friday. Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is believed to have received ...
Asia Pacific Jun 21, 2018
In interview, Malaysia's Najib says advisers hid corruption from him
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says he shouldn't be blamed for the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, and declares he knows nothing about money from the state fund appearing in his personal account. He does, though, have explanations for the vast sums of cash, luxury handbags ...
Asia Pacific May 4, 2016
Malaysia's finance ministry said Wednesday it would dissolve the board of advisers at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and take over its remaining assets, in an apparent move to scale down a state fund whose scandals have rocked the government. Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) last ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Dec 8, 2015
Malaysia's Najib says 'conscience clear' as funding scandal festers
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he had done nothing wrong in receiving hundreds of millions of dollars into his personal bank accounts, as his party opened its annual meeting on Tuesday amid tensions over a festering funding scandal. Najib has so far weathered calls ...
World Oct 8, 2015
The Malaysian attorney general's office said on Thursday it had reviewed the report of a central bank investigation into troubled state fund 1MDB and decided that fund officials had not committed any offense. The statement comes in response to rare intervention in public affairs by ...