KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): The Ministry of Finance has confirmed the receipt of US$300 million (RM1.3 billion) in 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds from the US.
In a statement, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz said the amount represented funds recovered from seizures, forfeitures and liquidation of assets related to 1MDB.
“The latest tranche of US$300 million is made up of monies or assets linked to 1MDB that were recovered and forfeited by or surrendered to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
“I would like to convey our appreciation to the US Government and the DOJ for their efforts in recovering these assets which rightfully belong to Malaysia,” said Zafrul.
He noted that since June 2018, Malaysia has received US$620 million in 1MDB-related funds from the US.
This is made up of US$57 million (RM247 million) from the settlement of Red Granite Pictures which was credited in March 2019, US$137 million (RM593 million) from the sale of Jho Low’s interest in the Park Lane Hotel which was credited in April 2019, US$126 million (RM546 million) from the judicial sale of the Equanimity superyacht which was credited in December 2019, and the latest US$300 million.
Zafrul also thanked US Ambassador Kamala Shirin Lakhdir, whose office has been liaising with the Finance Ministry and the Attorney-General's Chambers over the past few weeks.
“We would also like to acknowledge the support extended by our counterparts in various countries in helping Malaysia recover 1MDB-related assets.
“The recovery of 1MDB-related assets is still ongoing, and the Ministry of Finance will continue to extend its fullest cooperation to all domestic and offshore investigating entities to ensure equally positive outcomes from these efforts in future,” he said.
This comes as Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier announced the return of US$300 million to Malaysia by the US Department of Justice.