In an interview with Nikkei Asia [link], Rafael Consing, CEO of the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), addressed the delay in the MIC’s deployment of capital, and provided some insight into the level of interest the fund has received from global investors. To the delay, Mr. Consing said, “We’ve got a fiduciary responsibility to run this capital allotted by the government to MIC with utmost transparency and professionalism, and responsibly and accountability. So, the only way that you can do that is basically having a proper corporate governance framework.” He later added, “So that’s how we’re going to be avoiding 1MDB.” As for the interest in the fund, Mr. Consing said that “some Europeans expressed interest in co-investing with the fund, as well as a Middle Eastern-Gulf investor.” When asked about whether China would be able to invest amid the boiling tensions between the two countries, Mr. Consing replied, “The only ones that we should not be dealing with are those which have been identified as terrorists. But other than that, if China wants to invest in Maharlika, I don’t see why they shouldn’t.”