Malaysians left in disbelief after ex-prime minister Najib’s apology, disappointed

Disgraced former prime minister Najib Razak’s public apology for the ruinous 1MDB scandal has been met with disdain by Malaysians, as speculation mounts over a possible attempt to secure his early release from prison.

Through his lawyers, Najib issued an apology on Thursday over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, saying it pained him “every day” that the looting of billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money took place under his watch.

The jailed former leader apologized “unreservedly” for the scandal but claimed he “did not initiate or knowingly allow” the emptying of a fund he created and signed off on in his dual role as minister of finance.

In a short break after Friday prayers, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that Najib’s apology was “well received”.

Najib began a 12-year prison sentence in August 2022 after exhausting his latest attempt to overturn his conviction for corruption and abuse of power related to a former unit of 1MDB.

However, his apology has not gone down well with many Malaysians, who see Najib as a key player and beneficiary of the looting of what US and Malaysian investigators say was an estimated $4.5 billion from 1MDB.