Economy & Resources

Malaysia has achieved a major milestone in its fight against the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. According to a new Mutual Evaluation Report released on December 11, between 2019 and February 2025, the Malaysian government recovered $9.5 billion in assets, with 75 percent of these directly linked to the 1MDB case.   The 1MDB scandal, which rocked Malaysia for almost a decade, involved the theft of $4.5 billion from a governmen...

A hidden criminal economy is booming across Southeast Asia, turning once-quiet border towns into global hotspots for online scams. The situation is so bad that the international community has responded strongly, including with sanctions.   What started as small casino operations has grown into a global powerhouse of cybercrime, costing victims billions and fueling corruption across multiple countries.   How COVID-19 Lockdowns Superc...

A Malaysian court has delivered a major new blow to former prime minister Najib Razak, reinforcing the message that even the most powerful figures are not beyond the law.   On December 26, 2025, Najib was found guilty on 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering, marking his latest convictions for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for each of the abuse of power charges...

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal has taken a new turn after the Singapore High Court approved a $2.7 billion case against Standard Chartered Bank on November 24. This major development adds a powerful new player to the growing list of global institutions linked to the scandal, where over $4.5 billion meant for Malaysia’s development was stolen and diverted into luxury spending and Hollywood projects.   The UK-based Sta...

On December 9, the Paris Court of Appeal issued its final decision in the long-running $15 billion arbitration case brought against Malaysia by eight Filipino claimants claiming to be descendants of the former Sultanate of Sulu. The court ruled in favor of Malaysia.   The claim previously moved through courts in London, Madrid, Sabah, Luxembourg, The Hague, and Washington. Every single court ultimately rejected the case for lacking legal b...