washington/kuala lumpur president donald trump invite malaysian prime minister najib razak dog corruption scandal investigate unite state white house sept. 12 officials countries confirm thursday u.s. justice department conduct criminal probe 1malaysia development berhad 1mdb state fund found najib lose billions dollars justice department also launch civil lawsuits seize 1.7 billion assets say buy misappropriate 1mdb fund make large action department kleptocracy asset recovery initiative najib expect seek re-election poll due 2018 consistently deny wrongdoing relate 1mdb since scandal first erupt 2015. file civil case identify several individuals close malaysian official term malaysian u.s. government officials previously confirm refer najib aside unite state 1mdb focus money-laundering investigations least five countries include switzerland singapore white house say statement trump look forward discuss ways strengthen broaden bilateral relationship expand regional cooperation one america close partner southeast asia relations malaysia unite state sour last months obama administration justice department file lawsuits malaysian leader try rebuild tie trump administration among first world leaders congratulate trump election victory u.s. justice department file may show najib hire former campaign aide trump lobby u.s. government najib deny najib talk local media play golf trump past claim picture two trump sign say favorite prime minister meet trump could help najib bolster support within party ahead upcoming election refute claim would arrest travel unite state najib critics fear could use meet try derail investigations 1mdb najib seek strengthen tie china relations unite state become strain last year malaysian media report chinese president xi jinping expect visit southeast asian country come months though officially confirm unite state see malaysia important regional partner stand beijing territorial claim south china sea unite state long value malaysia support fight spread islamist militancy washington also seek kuala lumpur back policy toward north korea two leaders expect discuss areas mutually beneficial cooperation include national security global fight terrorism extremism trade investment benefit nations people malaysia foreign ministry say statement malaysia back trans-pacific partnership tpp trade agreement trump withdraw early year dismay unite state asian partner trump meet scandal-hit malaysian leader september