The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today confirmed that it has cooperated with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into investigation of possible money laundering involving a trader who allegedly cheated 1MDB.

It added that it had been cooperating with the FBI for a long time.

“The cooperation is focused on the possibility of abuse and money laundering done by a trader or businessperson who is claimed to have cheated 1MDB,” the MACC said in a two-paragraph statement today.

Yesterday, it was reported that the FBI had praised the MACC for its courage in the 1MDB probe following the publication of an article on the FBI's website.

It cited the FBI's International Corruption Unit chief Special Agent Darryl Wegner as saying the MACC "showed 'tremendous courage' in pursuing the investigation, which was led by the FBI's international public corruption squad in New York".

"Today's action (by the Department of Justice) sends a message to corrupt foreign officials. The FBI, together with our international partners, will find these individuals and root out their corruption.

"We are working very hard to make sure that the US will not be a safe haven for these types of crimes," Wegner had said.

The FBI has been working together with its Department of Justice (DOJ), which on Wednesday filed civil lawsuits seeking to seize more than US$1 billion in assets, allegedly obtained with funds siphoned from 1MDB.

The civil forfeiture action sees the DOJ applying through the California court to forfeit 17 items that include properties, a jet and precious artworks.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said yesterday that the police were not consulted or informed over the DOJ action.

He also said that the police were still investigating the 1MDB case and would call on Riza Aziz, who is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson, and businessman Jho Low. Both of them were named directly in the civil forfeiture action.