BOMBSHELL – ‘PRESSURE WAS PUT ON ZAHID FOR SEVERAL HOURS’ TO MAKE HIM CLOSE CASE ON JHO LOW: DON’T BE TOO SMUG NAJIB & ROSMAH, MALAYS WILL RETALIATE

DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had no need to bow to pressure to the extent of making a U-turn at the Dewan Rakyat on remarks he made concerning the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-related investigation into businessman Jho Low, Azmin Ali said.

The Selangor menteri besar said he was told that Zahid, who is also home minister, had been under pressure several hours after he made his first statement on Interpol’s help being sought to find Low, who had been accused of being the mastermind of the 1MDB scandal.

“I was made to understand that he faced pressure for a few hours after making that statement, causing him to make a U-turn.  

“Just a few hours later, he presented a different statement that contradicted his earlier statement at Parliament, saying that the case was closed and Interpol was never contacted,” Azmin said in Bandar Batu Arang, Rawang, today.

Yesterday, Zahid said the police had sought Interpol’s assistance to trace the businessman, whose real name is Low Taek Jho, in his reply to a question from Azmin, who is Gombak MP.

But later, Zahid said his statement in the House had been “manipulated”.

He said the request for Interpol’s help was no longer active as the case involving Low had been closed.

Azmin said Zahid’s actions had only served to raise more questions among those who wanted the scandal resolved and for Low to be held accountable for whatever part he alleged played in it.

“I leave it to the people to assess why the deputy prime minister was so afraid of his boss that he was forced to make a U-turn.  

“He has to be bold and not bow to political pressure because this has to do with the biggest financial scandal (in Malaysia). Jho Low’s name is being mentioned in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and all over the world.

“This was why I had asked the police to do its job (to find him). This is not about punishing him, but about detaining him to assist investigations.”

Azmin had previously applied at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to compel police and the inspector-general of police to arrest Low, who he alleged siphoned money from 1MDB for third parties to gain profit through illegal means.

However, this was dismissed by the court earlier this month after it allowed a preliminary objection by the Attorney-General’s Chambers in representing the police.

Low, who has been on the run and whose location is unknown, is said to have played a role in the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions of ringgit allegedly misappropriated by certain individuals.

In the latest US Department of Justice civil suit, it was stated that Low used some US$700 million (RM2.99 billion) from a US$975 million Deutsche Bank loan to 1MDB to buy jewellery for Australian model Miranda Kerr.

Low is suspected of breaking several laws in Malaysia, including Sections 120B, 406 and 409 of the Penal Code for being involved in a criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and criminal breach of trust by an agent or civil servant.

He is also suspected of violating the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com