PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, while significant, is only one of numerous financial scandals involving Malaysia’s former leaders.
In an interview with ‘101 East’ on Al Jazeera on Thursday, Anwar said, "I was one of the strong proponents against the 1MDB financial scandal and stressed that the truth must be uncovered, but I also know that billions were stolen by many other leaders."
He criticised what he described as a public "obsession" with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the 1MDB affair, arguing that this fixation distracts from broader issues of corruption involving other former premiers and finance ministers.
"1MDB — one major case — is ongoing... but these people have been obsessed with only Najib and 1MDB. This obsession I do not share," Anwar said.
"If you listen to them, the only problem in Malaysia is Najib and the 1MDB scandal. I'm telling you, yes, it's part of the scandal. It was not just Najib — it was prime ministers before him, finance ministers before him and after him. Go after them. Why protect some? Why have this obsession?"
When journalist Mary Ann Jolley remarked that 1MDB was considered the "biggest case of kleptocracy", Anwar responded that this was only based on what was publicly known.
"Now that I am prime minister, I have more information. I know quite a bit more, and I'm saying yes, 1MDB was a big major financial scandal — but there are many other billions stolen that must be resolved," he said.
Pressed on other cases, Anwar said investigations were ongoing and took aim at critics whom he accused of remaining silent when other powerful figures were implicated.
"The point I'm trying to raise is that the critics of Najib appear to be completely muted when it involves past leaders who have squandered billions.
"My point is go... I want this country to save itself from corrupt leaders and teach those who are corrupt a lesson. At least take back the funds and bring it back to serve the people," he said.
Anwar also addressed his controversial decision to bring Najib’s royal pardon request before the Pardons Board, clarifying that it was a constitutional obligation rather than a political gesture.
"You are damned if you do, you are damned if you don't. So finally, you do the right thing. What is the right thing? The right given to every single convict in the Federal Territory to submit a request for review... I have done that.
"What? To submit a request for a review... not a decision. I was imprisoned first by Mahathir (former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) for many years, then by Najib. But I said, look, we should go beyond that. I do not harbour that sort of bitterness because I think it is a disease."
He added, "The issue is, forgive me, why is this obsession with this man (Najib) who is in prison? For God's sake! He is in prison! And those who are plundering with their billions are still set free and then you (critics) do not bother."
Responding to a reference to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s US$27 million pink diamond, allegedly gifted by a Middle Eastern royal, Anwar smiled and said: "She doesn’t have to convince me. I raised the matter before."
He asserted that efforts to prosecute have not ceased: "Have we stopped prosecuting? No. Has the case stopped? No. Is the case ongoing? Yes. Okay, move on. What about the rest? I think there is a blatant, nasty trick by some of these crooks who continue to just highlight Najib repeatedly so that their case is ignored."
"Let us run this country and get back to proper governance, rule of law, judicial independence... let us run this country and not be bogged down by one obsession," he added.
The prime minister also spoke about fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, a central figure in the 1MDB scandal. He acknowledged that certain factions may oppose Low’s return to Malaysia, fearing further exposure.
"I believe so, I am sure… the fact that his (Low’s) return would probably expose more. I do not want to be distracted to consider this as the only issue that the prime minister Anwar has to deal with."
Anwar said one of his first actions upon taking office was to instruct enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to locate Low.
"I think he is quite instrumental and his testimony will be pivotal in actually closing... putting an end to this case (1MDB)."
Regarding Low’s current location, Anwar said there was no confirmation he was in China, though some activity had been observed.
"We cannot establish if he is in China. I mean, seriously on record... but we suspect some movements. If I say more, there will be more complications," he said.
In May 2023, Anwar said negotiations were in progress to secure Low’s return, though the process involved multiple countries, intelligence services, and Interpol, and remained highly complex. - May 16, 2025
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