KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 -- The government remains liable for over RM20 billion of 1MDB's debt if it fails to recover further assets, despite having already paid up to RM40 billion in one of the world's largest embezzlement scandals.

Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong said in Parliament today that the sheer scale of these repayments reflects the magnitude of the crime, noting that the burden has fallen heavily on Malaysian taxpayers.

The total sum misappropriated from the investment fund, established under the Najib administration, was approximately RM51 billion.

As of June 30, 2026, the Malaysian government has paid RM42.5 billion of the fund's debt and commitments, including principal payments, interest, legal and operational costs, ...