The Siege Within

A remarkable thriller crafted out of politics and high finance, this knockout exposé is all the more shocking for the ring of truth behind every act The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal has been framed in many ways by state agencies, lawyers, judges, journalists, and bloggers. But for all that has been said and written about a national debacle like no other in world history, no one has been able to capture and recreate the real drama of the financial swindle that changed Malaysian politics forever. Until now. In The Siege Within, award-winning news sleuth Leslie Lopez offers a new portrait of this epic from start to finish in a comprehensive single-volume account. By seamlessly weaving history, politics, and intrigue, bringing nearly four decades of reporting to bear on The Siege Within, Lopez offers a narrative of epic proportions, revealing to the reader many previously undisclosed but explosive slices and moments of contemporary Malaysia before meticulously dissecting the 1MDB scandal with vivid storytelling that unravels a complex financial fiasco while presenting the big picture.

Leslie Lopez is a native of Malaysia who has covered regional politics, business, and terrorism for a number of leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal. He has won awards for his reporting on the 1997 Asian economic crisis and the aftermath of Asia’s deadly financial tsunami. He also led the paper’s regional coverage on the growing threat from Islamic terrorists, breaking dozens of exclusive pieces that have helped bring greater understanding of the problems posed by religious militancy.