Cover image via Choo Choy May/Malay Mail
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed that Malaysia expects to recover up to RM14.4 billion (USD3.5 billion) of funds potentially lost through 1MDB
In an interview with Bloomberg, he said that "if we are lucky," Malaysia will be able to recover 30% of the estimated funds siphoned from 1MDB. At the very least, however, 10% of the RM50 billion (USD12.3 billion) should be regained.
This amount is less than the RM18.29 billion (USD 4.5 billion) that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had previously estimated to be recovered, Malaysiakini reported.
Image via Bloomberg
Despite the scandal having spawned worldwide investigations in at least 10 countries, including Singapore and the US, the Finance Minister explained that there are still difficulties in tracing the numerous complex transactions
"Those that we can trace, there's also the question of ownership, due process as well as different national jurisdiction," he said.
Malaysia has hired Singapore-based law firm Tan Rajah & Cheah to assist in recovering the funds, while Swiss prosecutors have pledged to return any stolen money to the country.
Image via Malaysian Access
According to Lim, more scandals "in the billion-dollar range" will be released in the future, with at least one more announced within the government's first 100 days in power
"We will explain and we will review and disclose everything within 100 days, so that we can move on," he said.
"We cannot be existing on one expose after another. Scandal after scandal. No. We want to move on after that," Bloomberg reported.
Image via REUTERS
