Investigations Stymied in Malaysia, Critics of Najib Razak Take Their Case Global

New York Times

12 September 2015

Since reports first surfaced alleging that hundreds of millions of dollars had been transferred into the personal accounts of the Malaysian prime minister, investigations into the scandal have met stiff government resistance.

Now they are on life support.

Investigators have been sidelined, the publications of a crusading news organization have been suspended, and a deputy prime minister who asked too many questions was fired.

Faced with what they see as stonewalling at home, opponents of Prime Minister Najib Razak, some from within his own party, are going global, prodding foreign governments and agencies to investigate allegations of graft and money laundering they say are related to the case.

Some international inquiries have already begun.

… John Pang, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, says moves by foreign law enforcement agencies could create pressure for more robust Malaysian investigations, which he describes as verging on moribund.

“I don’t think that anyone thinks international efforts will unseat Najib alone,” Mr. Pang said. “The hope is that they will embolden, support or fortify the investigative efforts at home.”

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