1MDB asset recovery unaffected by royal pardon, says PM Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reassured Malaysians that efforts to recover assets linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal will continue unimpeded, regardless of any royal pardon that may be granted to individuals convicted in the case.

Anwar, who also holds the Finance Minister portfolio, explained that civil claims and criminal proceedings are fundamentally different in nature, operating under separate legal foundations and evidentiary requirements. He emphasised that a pardon affecting criminal convictions would not automatically halt or weaken the government's ability to pursue civil recovery actions.

"The civil suit is a separate matter from criminal proceedings," Anwar said in his statement. "They operate on different legal principles and standards of proof, which means the outcome of one does not necessarily determine the outcome of the other."

The 1MDB scandal, which has seen billions of ringgit in state funds allegedly misappropriated, remains a priority for the current administration. The government's two-pronged approach—pursuing both criminal accountability and asset recovery through civil courts—continues to be central to its efforts to return stolen funds to Malaysia.

Anwar's clarification comes amid ongoing legal proceedings related to the scandal, with several high-profile figures facing various charges in Malaysian courts.