US, S'pore know 1MDB-linked money belongs to M'sia: Mahathir
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today expressed confidence that US and Singaporean authorities will proceed to return more than RM930 million allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing Pakatan Harapan's presidential council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir said this was because they were aware the money rightfully belonged to the Malaysian government.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today expressed confidence that US and Singaporean authorities will proceed to return more than RM930 million allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing Pakatan Harapan's presidential council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir said this was because they were aware the money rightfully belonged to the Malaysian government.
"I heard about this and I think they know it is our money, so they will give back our money. Singapore will also give back our money," he said in reference to a Bloomberg report on the matter today.
"We are hoping to get back US$7 billion," Mahathir said when further quizzed on the government's expectations for the total amount to be recovered.
Quoting those familiar with the matter, Bloomberg had reported that funds slated to be returned by US authorities amounted to about US$200 million (RM828 million) which included the US$140 million from the sale of a stake in New York’s Park Lane Hotel and some US$60 million from a settlement paid by the producer of the Wolf of Wall Street movie.
Meanwhile, Singaporean authorities, according to Bloomberg, are expected to return about S$35 million (RM106 million). This was the sum surrendered by former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng and his family in connection with the 1MDB scandal.
On a separate matter, Mahathir also answered a question on India's move to charge its controversial preacher Zakir Naik with money laundering.
"That will be looked at based on existing laws," he said without elaborating further.
Zakir, who was granted Malaysian permanent residence status in 2012, had allegedly criminally acquired US$28 million (RM116 million) worth of assets.
Indian authorities have also accused him of spreading hate speech and inciting terrorism.
Despite an official request from New Delhi and the extradition treaty between both countries, the Pakatan Harapan government has said the 53-year-old will not be sent back unless he breaks local laws.
Mahathir said the Harapan presidential council meeting held at Yayasan Al-Bukhary in the capital also discussed issues surrounding the coalition's upcoming one-year anniversary next week as well as a post-mortem on its performance in the last Rantau by-election.
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