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Malaysia 1MDB scandal
This Week in AsiaPolitics

1MDB scandal: Malaysia’s Najib Razak surfs popularity wave as legal battle enters next phase

  • The largest of the ex-Malaysian prime minister’s five criminal trials over his involvement in the multibillion-dollar scandal is set to begin
  • Despite damaging revelations from his first trial, Najib has bounced back in popularity as he insists he is the victim of a political conspiracy

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Malaysia’s former prime minister, Najib Razak. Photo: AP
Bhavan Jaipragas
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak’s legal travails enter their next phase on Wednesday with the start of the largest of the five criminal trials he is facing for his alleged involvement in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal.

Detractors, including those in the ruling coalition that toppled him, had hoped evidence from the first trial which began in April – over corruption at a subsidiary of the 1MDB state fund – would have thoroughly discredited the 66-year-old by now.

Instead, political and legal analysts say he is entering this critical phase of his legal battle with considerable popular support thanks to a confluence of factors which have worked in his favour, including a successful charm offensive, favourable revelations in the courtroom, and the languid performance of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government.
Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on August 19, 2019. Photo: AFP
Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on August 19, 2019. Photo: AFP

In the trial that begins on Wednesday, Najib faces 21 charges of money laundering and four for abuse of power involving transactions amounting to 2.3 billion ringgit (US$550 million) between 2011 and 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to all 42 charges prosecutors have levelled at him.

The new trial was slated to begin immediately after the conclusion on Tuesday of the prosecution stage of the first trial involving 1MDB subsidiary SRC International.

In that case, the prosecution led by attorney general Tommy Thomas called 57 witnesses to the stand over 58 days.

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