A small news item of note for Malaysianists: as of today, the last U.S. defendant in United States v. Carson has pled guilty to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The indictment charges that “corrupt payments totaling approximately $1 million [were paid] to officers and employees of state-owned companies,” one of which was Petronas, Malaysia’s national petroleum company. The crimes took place in 2004-5.
This should be big news for Malaysians and for scholars of Malaysian politics. Petronas is among the most reputable of Malaysia’s multinational firms, and it is a key player in Malaysian corporate politics.
tompepinsky.com 
Greg Lopez June 16, 2012
The amount appears to be small compared to what UMNO/BN fellas receive.
Greg Lopez June 16, 2012
The amount is tiny to the kind we are used to hear/read in Malaysia
Tom June 16, 2012
The amounts are indeed small, but the point is that this is Petronas, Malaysia’s flagship multinational and without a doubt the most reputable Malaysian firm.
Tom June 16, 2012
Most reputable among the corporate giants, of course. Lots of reputable Malaysian firms that you and I’ve never heard about.