appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Reuters

Malaysia’s newly appointed attorney general Tommy Thomas said on Wednesday there would be “no cover ups” as he promised to institute criminal and civil action over a graft scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
At least six countries, including the United States, Singapore and Switzerland, are investigating claims that US$4.5 billion was siphoned out of 1MDB, founded by former premier Najib Razak.
“I have therefore to study all the papers in that scandal. We will institute criminal and civil proceedings in our courts against the alleged wrongdoers,” Thomas told reporters on his first day in office.
“All are equal before the law and no one is spared. There will be no cover up.”
Malaysia to probe US$2 billion in payments made to Chinese pipeline firm under ousted ruler Najib Razak

He also said he would immediately contact authorities in other countries investigating 1MDB, with the aim of returning billions of dollars allegedly stolen from the fund.
Other tasks on his immediate agenda included repealing oppressive laws, and reviewing Malaysia’s contracts with other countries.
“On my part, I promise to do the right thing, that is to tell the truth and to do justice. Justice must not only be done but it must also be seen to be done,” he said.
Thomas is the country’s first non-Muslim attorney general in decades, and his appointment had been opposed by some sections of the majority ethnic Malay community.
“Free speech means everybody can criticise you, so I am happy for everybody to criticise me,” Thomas said in response.
Malaysia anti-graft agency questions ex-PM’s wife Rosmah Mansor about 1MDB money-laundering
He was appointed on Tuesday to replace Mohamed Apandi Ali, who in 2016 had cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in the 1MDB case.

Mohamed Apandi was ordered to go on leave by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, soon after Najib’s coalition was defeated in a shock election result last month.
Mahathir also reopened 1MDB investigations and barred Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, from leaving the country.
Malaysia’s anti-corruption commission has questioned both Najib and Rosmah in connection with a graft probe into SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.
Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said in 2016 that the Malaysian government would cooperate with US investigations. Rosmah’s lawyer said she would cooperate fully with investigators in the case.


Crowd disarms knife-wielding woman at Malaysia water festival

Singapore’s safe-haven status draws more Chinese capital into property sector

From Malaysia’s book bans to Iran war, Anwar’s reform agenda faces sternest test

Why Singapore, Thailand are among the world’s ‘happiest’ economies

Malaysia

Malaysia’s new attorney general Tommy Thomas vows ‘no cover ups’ in 1MDB case

Traffic passes a 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) billboard at the Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s newly appointed attorney general Tommy Thomas said on Wednesday there would be “no cover ups”. Photo: Reuters

This picture taken on December 6, 2016 shows Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad pausing during an interview with AFP at his office in Putrajaya. Malaysian ruling party icon Mahathir Mohamad has accused current leader Najib Razak of "destroying" the country by clinging to power despite a corruption scandal, and vowed to campaign vigorously for the opposition in coming elections. In an interview with AFP, the 91-year-old former prime minister excoriated Najib over the sensational graft allegations swirling around the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. / AFP PHOTO / Manan VATSYAYANA / TO GO WITH AFP STORY MALAYSIA-POLITICS-CORRUPTION-NAJIB-1MDB-MAHATHIR,INTERVIEW BY M. JEGATHESAN

Tommy Thomas is the first non-Malay to take the post of attorney-general since Malaysia was formed in 1963

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

At least six countries, including the United States, Singapore and Switzerland, are investigating claims that US$4.5 billion was siphoned out of the state fund founded by former premier Najib Razak


Malaysia 1MDB scandal

Mahathir Mohamad