Mahathir wants 1MDB money back, seeks probe into Attorney-General
Newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad wants billions of dollars lost in the 1Malasia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal returned, the 92-year-old leader said at late-night speech in Kuala Lumpur on May 10.
During his campaign, Mahathir promised the set-up of a royal commission for inquiries into scandal-tainted institutions in the country, including 1MDB.
Malaysian non-governmental organisations have previously tried to get their hands on 1MDB assets seized by Swiss, U.S. and Singapore authorities, but to no avail because Malaysia has to make an official claim for them.
“We believe that we can get most of the 1MDB money back,” said Mahathir, who also revealed that some of the country’s debt was bloated and needed to be renegotiated. His comments came after the Malaysian central bank divulged that total government borrowings from financial institutions of the previous administration amounted to close to 800 billion ringgit ($200 billion).
Mahathir also said the government will look into the domestic 1MDB investigation, which was given the all-clear by Attorney General Mohamed Apandii Ali who was carefully handpicked by former prime minister Najib Razak and has been suspected of protecting him by hiding evidence.
“We have to look into who the Attorney General is. At the moment, the Attorney General has undermined his own credibility. He in fact has hidden evidence of wrongdoing and that is wrong in law,” Mahathir said.
He also noted that jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be given a full royal pardon and released “soon.”
Newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad wants billions of dollars lost in the 1Malasia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal returned, the 92-year-old leader said at late-night speech in Kuala Lumpur on May 10. During his campaign, Mahathir promised the set-up of a royal commission for inquiries into scandal-tainted institutions in the country, including 1MDB. Malaysian non-governmental organisations have previously tried to get their hands on 1MDB assets seized by Swiss, U.S. and Singapore authorities, but to no avail because Malaysia has to make an official claim for them. “We believe that we can get most of the 1MDB money...
Newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad wants billions of dollars lost in the 1Malasia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal returned, the 92-year-old leader said at late-night speech in Kuala Lumpur on May 10.
During his campaign, Mahathir promised the set-up of a royal commission for inquiries into scandal-tainted institutions in the country, including 1MDB.
Malaysian non-governmental organisations have previously tried to get their hands on 1MDB assets seized by Swiss, U.S. and Singapore authorities, but to no avail because Malaysia has to make an official claim for them.
“We believe that we can get most of the 1MDB money back,” said Mahathir, who also revealed that some of the country’s debt was bloated and needed to be renegotiated. His comments came after the Malaysian central bank divulged that total government borrowings from financial institutions of the previous administration amounted to close to 800 billion ringgit ($200 billion).
Mahathir also said the government will look into the domestic 1MDB investigation, which was given the all-clear by Attorney General Mohamed Apandii Ali who was carefully handpicked by former prime minister Najib Razak and has been suspected of protecting him by hiding evidence.
“We have to look into who the Attorney General is. At the moment, the Attorney General has undermined his own credibility. He in fact has hidden evidence of wrongdoing and that is wrong in law,” Mahathir said.
He also noted that jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be given a full royal pardon and released “soon.”
