MEGA financial scandals such as the 1Malaysia Development BHD (1MDB) affair would not have happened if there was a strong system in place, Anwar Ibrahim said today. 

The prime minister blamed “systemic weaknesses” in government for the persistence of graft.

“It turns out there are systemic weaknesses. As I have said, corruption is systemic in our country. 

“Big scandals, including 1MDB, would not have been possible if the system was strong and accountability exists,” Anwar said in his first meeting this year with Finance Ministry staff.

Anwar said even a leading global investment bank such as Goldman Sachs had been complicit in the defrauding of 1MDB. 

“We cannot deny that the problem is systemic, including in Goldman Sachs,” he said. 

Goldman Sachs was accused of facilitating the misappropriation of the sovereign fund’s money. It paid billions of ringgit to settle the case but did not admit guilt.

Anwar said some might not be happy that he was digging up the past. 

“But If we don’t fix the old issues, it is impossible for us to talk about integrity and saving money.

“We are not talking about one or two billion. If you recall, billions of ringgit were either leaked or stolen,” he said. 

Anwar said the members of the previous administration had obviously worked only to enrich themselves.

He urged the civil servants not to be complacent and to use their strength and experience to save the country. – January 17, 2023.