KUALA LUMPUR – The financial burden arising from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal is still being borne by the country, with the Federal Government having paid RM42.5 billion in debt and related commitments as of May 31, 2026.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy secretary-general Sivamalar Genapathy said the figure, disclosed in an official Finance Ministry parliamentary reply on July 9, showed that the financial consequences of 1MDB remained a continuing responsibility for the government.
She said the government still had to bear RM5 billion in principal and RM3.9 billion in interest under the Sukuk IMTN until its maturity in 2039.
This brings the total financial commitment related to 1MDB to about RM51.4 billion.
Sivamalar said the issue should not be regarded as a matter confined to the past when the country continued to carry the financial obligations arising from the scandal.
“The financial commitment is still being borne by the country and will continue until 2039,” she said in a statement today.
She said the RM51.4 billion commitment represented substantial public resources that could otherwise be channelled towards pressing national needs, including schools, hospitals, public transport, housing and assistance for families facing the rising cost of living.
Sivamalar said the continued financial obligations also showed why the 1MDB issue remained relevant to Malaysians.
“We have not forgotten because the financial commitment is still being borne by the country. We have not forgotten because its impact is still being felt through the use of public financial resources,” she said.
She stressed that raising the issue was not about political vengeance but about accountability, responsibility and ensuring that public funds were managed properly.
According to Sivamalar, those entrusted with political power must remember that the country’s finances ultimately belonged to the people.
She said any abuse of public trust could have consequences that would ultimately be borne by the people.
“The people should not be the ones bearing the consequences of failures in managing public trust and the country’s finances,” she said. -MalayaDailyToday
