Lok Sabha: RM28 billion assets recovered to settle 1MDB debt

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Oct: A total of RM28 billion out of RM37.53 billion in asset recovery through financial crime enforcement action was allocated to settle 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) debt.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the amount was part of the asset recovery through various enforcement agencies' actions against financial crime activities.

"The total amount seized and returned from the assets of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) and others reached RM37.53 billion.

"And of course in this context part of that RM28 billion involves the investigation into 1MDB and debt out of a total of RM37.5 billion, RM28 billion is to settle 1MDB's debt", he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The Prime Minister said this in response to the question of Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (Pakatan Harapan-Port Dickson) on the latest developments of alleged corporate mafia activities involving violations of law and actions taken by the government.

Anwar who is also Finance Minister said that corporate criminal activities including taking over listed companies, manipulation of the stock market, violation of corporate disclosure requirements as well as illegal lending activities using threats are among the governance issues to be addressed.

"The Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) has increased enforcement action since 2023, including the initiation of 239 criminal charges against 50 individuals.

"SC is also continuing an investigation into transactions associated with several companies, including Serba Dynamic and Sarawak Consolidated, to ensure appropriate action is taken against any breaches of the law", he said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that Op Viking led by the Crime Investigation Team of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) witnessed 70 individuals being investigated.

"The asset freeze and seizure also involved eight properties, 11 vehicles, 417 CDS accounts, 70 stock trading accounts worth RM323 million as well as 404 bank accounts totaling RM85.6 million.

"The team also recorded progress in enforcement actions between late 2022 and September 2026, with asset freezes totalling RM4.3 billion, seizures of RM1 billion, liquidations of RM48.3 million and compound deposits of RM1.1 billion", he said.

Anwar said the government will ensure that investigations into corporate criminal activities continue through criminal or civil prosecution.

"I would like to guarantee here that this case and cases involving abuse of power and violations of the law involving business and corporate activities are not rejected directly", he said.

He said further disclosure of the case, which is still under investigation, is subject to consideration by relevant law enforcement agencies.