Prime Minister Najib Razak’s controversies timeline
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, democratically elected for the first time in May 2013, may be facing his most serious test to date as police raid the 1MDB offices linked to the allegations of unlawfully obtained funds. Ministers within Putrajaya have rallied to the prime minister’s side as former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Najib escalated their war of words through traditional and social media.
While the storm may blow over, as has often been the case, we take a look back through some of the major controversies/allegations during Najib Razak’s political career.
2002 – Allegations of corruption over the purchase of two French submarines at the cost of $1.25 billion during Najib’s reign as defense minister.
October 18, 2006 – Former aide and bodyguard of Najib is linked to a case involving the murder of a Mongolian national and acquitted in 2008. Two policemen (including Najib’s former bodyguard) were convicted of the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu and had their death sentences upheld in 2015.
March 7, 2014 – The court of appeal overturns the acquittal of opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim, convicting him of sodomy and sentencing him to five years in prison. The decision comes as Anwar, head of the opposition party to Najb, is preparing to contest a state-by-election that he is expected to win in a landslide in Selangor.
April 10, 2015 – Despite promises in 2012 to repeal the sedition act, the premier announces in 2014 the act will stay and the 1948 sedition act is further amended, to much criticism.
July 8, 2015 – Malaysian police raid the offices of troubled state investment fund 1MDB as Najib’s law firm considers actions against Wall Street Journal which brought up reports about irregularities.
July 28, 2015 – Five ministers are dumped, including deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as a leaked video emerges with Muhyiddin confronting Najib on deposits into his personal accounts. Seven new ministers appointed and nine new deputy ministers. The Attorney General is also sacked.
It remains to be seen if the premier will absorb the latest tribulations and whether international pressure will be ratcheted up to force Putrjaya’s hand. British Prime Minister David Cameron, despite domestic criticism, is pushing ahead with a visit to Kuala Lumpur to drum up trade from the region and it remains to be seen if President Barack Obama will follow suit at the East Asia Summit in November.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, democratically elected for the first time in May 2013, may be facing his most serious test to date as police raid the 1MDB offices linked to the allegations of unlawfully obtained funds. Ministers within Putrajaya have rallied to the prime minister's side as former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Najib escalated their war of words through traditional and social media. While the storm may blow over, as has often been the case, we take a look back through some of the major controversies/allegations during Najib Razak’s political career. 2002 – Allegations of corruption over...
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, democratically elected for the first time in May 2013, may be facing his most serious test to date as police raid the 1MDB offices linked to the allegations of unlawfully obtained funds. Ministers within Putrajaya have rallied to the prime minister’s side as former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and Najib escalated their war of words through traditional and social media.
While the storm may blow over, as has often been the case, we take a look back through some of the major controversies/allegations during Najib Razak’s political career.
2002 – Allegations of corruption over the purchase of two French submarines at the cost of $1.25 billion during Najib’s reign as defense minister.
October 18, 2006 – Former aide and bodyguard of Najib is linked to a case involving the murder of a Mongolian national and acquitted in 2008. Two policemen (including Najib’s former bodyguard) were convicted of the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu and had their death sentences upheld in 2015.
March 7, 2014 – The court of appeal overturns the acquittal of opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim, convicting him of sodomy and sentencing him to five years in prison. The decision comes as Anwar, head of the opposition party to Najb, is preparing to contest a state-by-election that he is expected to win in a landslide in Selangor.
April 10, 2015 – Despite promises in 2012 to repeal the sedition act, the premier announces in 2014 the act will stay and the 1948 sedition act is further amended, to much criticism.
July 8, 2015 – Malaysian police raid the offices of troubled state investment fund 1MDB as Najib’s law firm considers actions against Wall Street Journal which brought up reports about irregularities.
July 28, 2015 – Five ministers are dumped, including deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as a leaked video emerges with Muhyiddin confronting Najib on deposits into his personal accounts. Seven new ministers appointed and nine new deputy ministers. The Attorney General is also sacked.
It remains to be seen if the premier will absorb the latest tribulations and whether international pressure will be ratcheted up to force Putrjaya’s hand. British Prime Minister David Cameron, despite domestic criticism, is pushing ahead with a visit to Kuala Lumpur to drum up trade from the region and it remains to be seen if President Barack Obama will follow suit at the East Asia Summit in November.
