Transparency International is lobbying Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio to make use of his star power to put pressure on Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

TI's regional coordinator for Asia Pacific Samantha Grant said DiCaprio could do this by signing the organisation's Declaration Against Corruption in which he would assert that he would not seek bribes and campaign against corruption as well as report abuses.

"We live in a very interesting world, so by Leonardo DiCaprio saying publicly that this is not okay, he’s actually probably putting more pressure on prime minister Najib, than maybe even the Department of Justice (DOJ) can.

"The Malaysian people will hear that much more loudly than anything else," she was quoted as saying by US-based Hollywood Reporter.

Grant added that this move would also help DiCaprio to protect his image as a environmental campaigner.

Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) had on Oct 14 called on DiCaprio to resign as United Nation's messenger of peace for climate change if he failed to distance himself from the 1MDB scandal.

It had also called on DiCaprio to return any funds linked to 1MDB.

DiCaprio became entangled in the 1MDB scandal through his association with Red Granite Pictures, which was co-founded by Najib's stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz.

The company is accused of using funds laundered from 1MDB, including for the production of the The Wolf of Wall Street film, in which DiCaprio starred in.

DiCaprio's foundation had also been accused of receiving 1MDB-linked funds.

Grant echoed BMF's call to return any funds linked to 1MDB DiCaprio may have received.

"If that money is found by the DOJ to be corrupt, to not give it back sort of says that money that was due to go to the Malaysian public is sitting in Leonardo DiCaprio's account," she was quoted as saying.

DiCaprio, through his representative, had indicated that he and his foundation is prepared to return the funds if the DOJ established that they are linked to 1MDB.