Tom Wright sat down last week with Coconuts Editor in Chief Chad Williams in Hong Kong to talk about the damage that’s been wrought, the people who bear responsibility, and who is likely to face justice.Ĭoconuts: How much of a role did the 1MDB case ultimately play in May’s stunning election upset in Malaysia? One that saw billions siphoned from Malaysian taxpayers and put directly into the pockets of the powerful. And with a new government in power at home and the US Department of Justice slowly tightening its noose, a jail cell looms as a distinct possibility. As long as the next Aspen ski trip, or yacht party in Monaco, or gifted piece of jewelry was on the horizon, the good ship Jho Low floated on. It was badly hit by flight cancellations, border closures and strict quarantine measures for crew.He, of course, could have done none of it without the patronage of then-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, a man who believed his tenuous grasp on power could only be sustained via payments to his political cronies.īut the Penang native’s circle extended well beyond the prime minister and his Birkin-bag loving wife Rosmah Mansor, from Saudi royalty to the boardroom of Goldman Sachs to celebrity pals like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx.įew knew where the money came from. The carrier said the experiences of passengers on the flight had caused 'widespread concern' and added it 'sincerely apologized'.The airline announced it had suspended the flight attendants and launched an internal investigation.Hong Kong's flagship carrier has tried to rebuild from difficult years during the health crisis.

STORY: Cathay Pacific apologized Tuesday (May 23) after some of its flight attendants were accused of discrimination.A passenger travelling from Chengdu in China to Hong Kong wrote an online post about their alleged experiences.They said flight attendants complained among themselves about passengers in English and Cantonese, and made fun of a passenger for asking for a carpet instead of a blanket.A flight attendant is accused of telling a passenger they could not have a blanket because they couldn't say it in English.The post drew criticism of Cathay on social media in China, and from state-run newspaper People's Daily.It accused the airline of 'worshipping' foreigners and looking down on mainlanders.

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