Malaysia PM visits Saudi king despite controversy over ties

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak met with Saudi King Salman in a visit to the kingdom on Tuesday that highlights their close and at times controversial ties.

Najib, who faces elections later this year, has clung to power despite a corruption scandal that involved nearly $700 million. Malaysia's attorney general cleared Najib of wrongdoing, saying the millions transferred to his personal bank account were a donation from the Saudi royal family and that most of it was returned.

Meanwhile, the state investment fund he established and once ran, 1MDB, is under investigation in the US and several other countries amid allegations of a global money-laundering scheme and embezzlement. The US Justice Department says people close to Najib stole billions of dollars, and the US government is working to seize $1.7 billion it says were taken from the fund to buy assets in the US.