Switzerland's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) said the decision of the Malaysian authorities not to cooperate with its probe into 1MDB will not impact its ongoing criminal investigation into the state investment fund.

"Malaysia’s negative decision has no direct consequences for the criminal proceedings ongoing in Switzerland.

"The OAG will continue its investigations by working with other countries involved in the case," the office told Malaysiakini today.

The OAG confirmed that its Malaysian counterpart had refused to consider Switzerland’s two requests for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in connection with the 1MDB case.

"Switzerland respects Malaysia’s independent decision on this matter.

"The Malaysian authorities remain free to use the information provided in Switzerland’s requests for assistance in their own investigations," the OAG said.

Last month, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali confirmed that his office had received the request from Switzerland's OAG and vowed to cooperate.

This was the Swiss AG's second MLA request to Malaysia, after the AG's Chambers claimed it did not receive the first application.

Investigations linked to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s brainchild 1MDB are underway in a number of countries worldwide, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

Apandi has cleared Najib of any wrongdoing with regard to alleged embezzlement in 1MDB.