Citing the various scandals surrounding Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, American daily The Washington Post believes that all these should sway the Obama administration.

“It’s past time for the administration to distance itself from a ruler who appears headed for well-deserved disgrace.”

The editorial, published yesterday, pointed out that although Malaysia’s attorney-general had cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion 'donation' issue, revelations about alleged misappropriation of funds by his brainchild 1MDB continue to pour forth apart from the investigations by other countries.

“Malaysia’s scandal appears likely to implicate financiers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United States as well as some big Western banks.

“Perhaps most important, the chances that Najib will himself face legal and political consequences are steadily growing,” read the editorial.

Najib, it added, had combated allegations by way of repression. Citing former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin who was sacked and former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail whose services was terminated, The Washington Post also pointed out how at least 15 people were charged under the Sedition Act which Najib had earlier promised to repeal.

“Increasingly, it looks like a losing effort. Even if Malaysia’s investigators are blocked, those in other countries appear likely to move forward and expose how money was diverted.”

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on 1MDB yesterday, Najib said it had proved how former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a false allegation that RM42 billion was missing from 1MDB.

Mahathir, however, retorted that instead of RM42 billion, the PAC had said that 1MDB had a debt of RM50 billion .

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali may have cleared Najib of any wrongdoing but his critics continue to raise various questions against him. Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing on his part.