A milestone interest payment for a huge debt owed to Abu Dhabi due in the middle of this month is presenting Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's new government with its most serious economic challenge yet, as it struggles with the aftershocks from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
The interest charge of US$50.3 million (S$70 million) represents the first financial commitment that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government must honour over the 1MDB affair since coming to power after the May general election.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you