Malaysian PM hopes to brush off 1MDB scandal in next election

UMNO trying to solidify leadership role as stigma begins to fade

Malaysian Prime Minister sees the 1MDB scandal won't deter the ruling party's win. (Source photos by AP, Reuters and Kosuke Imamura)

P PREM KUMAR, Nikkei staff writer

July 6, 2022 13:36 JST

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is expected to lead his political party's campaign in the next general election, which is widely expected to be called by year-end. Though he began his premiership last August with a clean slate, the dark history of the defunct state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) -- at the heart of one of the world's largest corruption scandals -- could still haunt his bid.