Malaysia recovers RM31.3b of 1MDB funds as of last year - Azam

Malaysia has recovered RM31.3 billion, or 74.5 percent of misappropriated 1MDB funds, as of last year, said MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

“To date, based on available data, the total funds misappropriated from 1MDB amount to RM42 billion.

“The total value of assets recovered as of 2025 stands at RM31,301,717,268.56, equivalent to 74.5 percent of the overall amount misappropriated,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Azam added that this is something to be proud of, noting it is among the highest asset recovery rates globally for a large-scale financial crime scandal.

“Our commitment to addressing the 1MDB case began on July 3, 2015. That was history because I was the one who opened the 1MDB file.

“So from 2015 to 2025, it has been about 10 years… the current process is to recover the money,” said the MACC veteran, who first joined its predecessor, the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) in 1984.

Azam said 1MDB asset recovery efforts began in 2019, with RM1.155 billion retrieved that year, followed by RM14.257 billion in 2020 and RM5.117 billion in 2021.

“Subsequently, RM400.38 million was recovered in 2022, RM8.088 billion in 2023, RM715.95 million in 2024, and RM1.566 billion in 2025,” he added.

He explained the recovery process involved cooperation with multiple parties, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice.

He said efforts were made via mutual legal assistance, financial intelligence sharing, bilateral engagements, and cross-border asset forfeiture, involving jurisdictions including the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

“Among key recoveries were proceeds from the sale of luxury yacht Equanimity amounting to about RM543 million, as well as the return of a private jet and overseas properties,” noted the outgoing MACC chief.

Azam said Malaysia also secured settlements with institutions such as Goldman Sachs Group, International Petroleum Investment Company, Aabar Investments PJS, Deloitte, and KPMG, collectively returning billions to the country.

The MACC, he said, is also working to recover proceeds from the sale of Claude Monet's “Vétheuil au Soleil”, which was sold in Switzerland for about €25.2 million (RM116 million).

“The funds are subject to seizure proceedings by US authorities, and efforts to recover them are ongoing through legal channels and cooperation with authorities in the US and Switzerland,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azam said MACC is tracking another US$2 billion (RM7.9 billion) to be repatriated to Malaysia by the end of 2027.

The funds are believed to be linked to several individuals suspected of holding assets and proceeds connected to the scandal overseas.

“It is a challenge we will face moving forward, particularly on the legal front. However, I can say that MACC has good cooperation with foreign countries,” he said.

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