Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal inspires anti-graft board game
In ‘Kleptopoly’, which was created by a corruption watchdog, the richest but least corrupt player is the winner
A Malaysian board game based on “Monopoly” is taking aim at the massive 1MDB scandal before elections, featuring a motley crew of figures central to the controversy and items allegedly bought with looted money.
Designed by an anti-graft watchdog, “Kleptopoly” sees players move tokens round a board and pick up high-end properties, with the richest – but least corrupt – player declared the winner at the end.
The US Department of Justice alleges that US$4.5 billion was looted from 1MDB, which was founded by Prime Minister Najib Razak, by officials at the state fund and their associates in a campaign of fraud and money-laundering.
Najib and the fund deny any wrongdoing.
The scandal is in sharp focus as Malaysians get ready for a general election on May 9, with Najib facing a tough fight to extend his ruling coalition’s six decades in power.