KUALA LUMPUR: No individuals or institutions that have benefited from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds will be allowed to get off scot-free, Lim Guan Eng (pix) has pledged.
The Finance Minister said the government would continue its efforts to recover all money that was stolen from the state investment arm, including from American multinational investment bank and financial services company Goldman Sachs.
“The Malaysian government will continue to leave no stone unturned in our attempt to recover the stolen funds and assets from around the world.
“This includes pursuing Goldman Sachs as well as their 17 directors for their complicity in the 1MDB scandal,” he said this when tabling the 2020 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat, here today.
Lim pointed out that up to July this year, the government has recovered about RM1.45 billion of stolen funds from international authorities, including through the sale of mega-yacht Equanimity, formerly owned by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
He added that the government remained committed to paying off all borrowing and obligations inherited from the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) regime.
“For 2019, the government is paying RM2.4 billion to service the debt interest of in 2019 and RM2.7 billion in 2020 for 1MDB and SRC International.
“We would like to express our utmost appreciation to the people of Malaysia who have generously contributed RM203 million towards Tabung Harapan Malaysia, which is utilised for the above repayments,” he said.
