Malaysian PM angrily denies corruption ahead of US visit

MALAYSIA’S prime minister has accused opponents of conducting a smear campaign over a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal that has overshadowed his visit to the White House today.

For more than a year, the US Justice Department has been investigating 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB), a sovereign wealth fund founded by Najib Razak and allegedly used by family and associates to acquire assets including property and jewellery.

In August, the department indicated it would shift its focus to a criminal investigation into the missing money, estimated to total more than $3.5billion (£2.6billion). Officials believe much of it was laundered through US financial institutions.

A series of articles in the American press have criticised the decision to roll out the red carpet for Mr Najib in Washington this week.

On Sunday, Mr Najib hit back, writing in a blog that political opponents “have sought to blacken our country’s name in the American media, making a series of wild claims” including that “Malaysia is in danger of sliding into dictatorship”.

Mr Najib has denied allegations of personal links to the scandal ahead of elections next year. US lawsuits alleged that more than $700million (£530million) from the funds had flowed into the accounts of “Malaysian Official 1”, identified as Mr Najib.

“There is little doubt that Najib will use this White House visit to burnish his credentials going into next year’s election in Malaysia, and redouble his repression of critics using the stamp of approval from his visit,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, told The Daily Telegraph.