A Malaysian official who probed the 1MDB mega-scandal which helped topple the corruption-plagued former regime has been appointed as the new central bank governor, the government said Friday. Nor Shamsiah Mohamad Yunus is returning to Bank Negara Malaysia to take up the top job almost two years after leaving her post as deputy governor, a spokesman for the prime minister told AFP.
Muhammad Ibrahim quit as bank chief this month after claims emerged that the institution helped Najib Razak's regime by purchasing government land in a bid to cover debts racked up by sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. The bank has insisted there was nothing untoward in the deal.
Najib, his family and cronies were accused of stealing billions of dollars from 1MDB in a blockbuster fraud that spanned the globe, and the claims were a major reason for his coalition's shock loss at last month's election.