Originally 1MDB stands for of 1Malaysia Development Berhad was a Malaysian state fund, set up in 2009 to promote development through foreign investment and partnerships. The then prime minister, Najib Razak, was its chairman.

The fund has since been at the heart of one of the biggest corruption scandals in the world. The US justice department believes more than $4.5bn was stolen by Jho Low and the resulting scandal has been responsible for the toppling of a government this year and the arrest of Najib, his wife, Rosmah Mansor, and a growing number of close associates.