Mahathir widens graft crackdown, seeks to cut debt

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad held his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday as officials widen a probe into corruption linked to the previous government with raids on sites linked to the head of a Muslim pilgrimage fund.

Mahathir led an opposition coalition to a shock victory in elections this month after campaigning on rising living costs and a promise to clean up corruption and on Wednesday vowed to cut the national debt of 1 trillion ringgit ($251.67 billion).

He has barred former premier Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, from leaving the country, and ordered the anti-graft agency to investigate the disappearance of billions of dollars from state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1 MDB).

Investigators have already searched Najib's home and several properties, seizing cash, jewellery and luxury items estimated to be worth millions of dollars.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will finish taking a statement from Najib, who ruled the country for almost a decade, on Thursday. Former premier Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing at 1MDB. — Reuters