Sarawak chief minister Adenan Satem today stressed that he had no association with 1MDB, amid attempts to paint that support for him was equivalent to support for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Adenan said that this strategy - employed by the opposition - is a case of "trying to be smart".

"1MDB has nothing to do with Sarawak. I don’t even know what 1MDB is until six months ago. Now, the opposition is trying to associate me with Najib.

"Opposition is trying to say that, 'Vote Adenan, Vote Najib', they are trying to be smart, but I have nothing to do with it," Adenan told a meeting with the Sarawak community in Kuala Lumpur today.

Adenan was responding to a question on whether Najib's scandal will affect his leadership in Sarawak.

Najib is facing calls to resign over his handling of 1MDB, which is struggling to repay its US$11 billion debt, and the discovery of RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts.

The prime minister had denied taking public funds for personal gain while his supporters claim the money was a political donation from the Middle East.

Adenan said it was unfair to pass judgement on 1MDB before investigations is completed.

"But some people have come to the conclusion. Let the investigation go on first. Find out the facts first.

"Before the investigation is completed, people are passing judgment. Which is not fair.

"But anyway, fair or not fair, it’s got nothing to do with Sarawak," he said.