KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 — The Finance Ministry will file a civil suit to claim the RM2.5 million already paid to former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy, Lim Guan Eng said today.

The finance minister said his ministry intends to recoup the amount given by the previous administration as an ex-gratia payment to Arul, after previously refusing the remainder of the amount.

"We have instructed to claim back the RM2.5 million,” Lim said, adding that a law firm has been appointed to make the claims.

Lim, however, did not specify when the claim would be filed.

Arul was granted a RM5 million payment by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in January after being successful in reducing 1MDB’s debt burden.

The payment was to be made in two trenches, divided in half for January and June respectively.