1MDB has courted international attention for the wrong reasons. However, a parliamentary reply from last week showed a different side of the firm, whose dealings have been the subject of investigations and court action in various countries.
The Finance Ministry revealed that RM690 million was spent on community programmes via the 1MDB foundation.
The foundation had carried out 60 programmes with regard to education, improving the quality of life and youth development.
The following are examples of 1MDB Foundation programmes listed in the parliamentary reply:
1) Parents Teacher Association (PIBG) fund to help facilitate small educational activities and infrastructure development.
2) Scholarships for religious school students. The scholarships are a joint effort with Jakim to help religious school students further their studies in medicine, dentistry, and pharmaceuticals.
3) 1MDB Academic Grant for independent Chinese schools for UEC graduates to pursue tertiary education.
4) 1MDB Academic Grant for the Sri Murugan Centre for Indian students who excelled in SPM and STPM examinations.
5) Teaming up with the Education Ministry and the Public Service Department (JPA) to provide assistance for SPM and STPM students.
6) Building 12 transit homes for Sarawakian pre-school students whose schools are too far from their homes.
7) Teaming up with the Health Ministry on the Mobile 1Malaysia Clinic (KB1M) for rural areas.
8) The Majudiri pilot project by teaching business soft skills to entrepreneurs and those from the lower income group.
9) A micro credit scheme with the MCA-owned Kojadi cooperative to help young entrepreneurs
10) Contributions to the National Heart Institute (IJN) on research to treat mitral valve regurgitation.
The Finance Ministry said the 1MDB Foundation also provides grants for youths aged 15 to 40 to work on projects that promote unity.
How much was spent on these various projects were not stated.
The Finance Ministry also stated that the 1MDB Foundation had sponsored 5,711 haj pilgrimages over the past several years.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also finance minister, said that the haj programme has cost the 1MDB Foundation RM57 million over the past five years.
The prime minister himself has been implicated in the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.
However, he has denied the allegations, blaming them on those conspiring to topple him from power.
Najib was also cleared of any wrongdoing by attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.
