Dr Mahathir: Malaysian govt working hard to bring Jho Low back

Singapore—Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad spoke to members of media on Thursday, November 7, on the matter of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (commonly known as Jho Low), who is wanted in the country due to investigations regarding his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fund scandal.

At an event wherein Dr Mahathir and his wife were awarded honorary doctorates in creative arts by the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), the Prime Minister told the press that the government is working very hard to get Mr Low back to Malaysia so that he can face justice.

“I would not know (where is Jho Low). We are working hard on it to get information, but information is not easy to get.

I am told that he carries several passports and he may have done alterations (plastic surgery to) his face. But all these are rumours.

I have no proof. But it could happen and that makes it difficult for us to trace him.”

Dr Mahathir was commenting on earlier statements made by Inspector General of Police Abdul Hamid concerning a country that he has not named but is purportedly lending assistance to the fugitive businessman and is declining to cooperate with Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir said that Mr Abdul Hamid told him “where he has found him (Mr Low). So I would not know. It is not like every time he knows where Jho Low supposed to be, he would raise it with me.

It is not like that. Only once in a while, he will report to me.”

However, the Prime Minister added that he will not be starting a fight with the country that has aided Mr Low. “We can go to war, but we will lose the war and Jho Low. We are conscious that we are not a very strong nation.

Sometimes people are nice to us, sometimes they are not. We have to accept that.”

The Prime Minister did not mince his words when speaking of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the president of UMNO, who is said to have blamed the Attorney-General’s Chambers regarding a number of cases, which includes the decision by the Sessions Court allowing for the application to dismiss two charges related to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against P Gunasekaran, a Seremban Jaya assemblyman, according to a report from The New Straits Times.

“Previously, when his boss (Umno leader allegedly engaged in money laundering) had stolen money, he did not blame anyone for it.

And now (after becoming an opposition member of parliament), he has started blaming others.

Please remind yourself why you (Barisan Nasional and Umno) lost (in the 14th general election). You lost because you did not blame your boss.”

Earlier this week, Cyprus announced that it would start to revoke the citizenship of 26 people, including Mr Low, who had gotten his new nationality through the Cyprus’ investment-for-passport scheme.

Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides told the press in Nicosia that the withdrawal of passports revolves around investors who had gotten 26 passports in all. -/TISG

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