What's happened
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has issued an apology for the 1MDB scandal, expressing regret for the events that transpired under his leadership. His statement comes as he continues to serve a prison sentence for corruption linked to the fund, which saw billions embezzled. Public reaction has been largely negative.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Najib expressed that it 'pains me every day' to acknowledge the 1MDB scandal occurred during his tenure. However, many Malaysians, including media scholar Benjamin Loh, criticized his apology as disingenuous, stating, 'It didn’t just ‘happen under my watch’.' The Independent highlighted that Najib's apology comes just before a crucial court decision regarding his ongoing legal challenges, emphasizing the gravity of his situation. Political analyst Bridget Welsh remarked that the apology is 'an appeal for clemency and house arrest without substantive acceptance of responsibility.' This sentiment is echoed across various platforms, indicating a strong public backlash against Najib's attempts to mitigate his legal consequences.
How we got here
Najib Razak established the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund in 2009. Following allegations of embezzlement and corruption, he was convicted in 2020 and began serving a 12-year sentence in 2022. His recent apology comes ahead of a significant court decision regarding additional graft charges.
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