Malaysia views US DOJ lawsuits seriously - DPM

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government viewed seriously the filing of civil forfeiture lawsuits by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) with regard to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He said Malaysia welcomes the efforts by the US DOJ in battling international corruption and urges all parties involved to cooperate fully so that the appropriate legal process can take its due course.

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia, being a responsible member of the United Nations and the global community, respects the legal processes of different jurisdictions and remains fully committed in upholding the rule of law.

"As stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, this is in line with our commitment to promote good governance, especially from the standpoint of transparency and accountability.

"In my capacity as the Home Minister, ?I can confirm that investigations are still ongoing domestically by the relevant authorities, especially the Royal Malaysian Police," he said in a statement yesterday.

Recently, the Department of Justice of the United States has filed a civil suit to recover assets derived from alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

Ahmad Zahid stressed that any Malaysian individual or corporation found guilty in engaging in unlawful activities anywhere in the world will face the full brunt of the law.

He said the Malaysian government stands firm in its commitment to resolve the issue fully and priority is given to uphold justice, so that the interest of the public is fully protected.

"More importantly, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by these lawsuits.

"Malaysians must remain united and focused on facing the challenges which confront our nation both at home and abroad. I am confident that we will soon find a closure on this 1MDB debacle," he said.