Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has not received any information regarding 1MDB-linked businessperson Jho Low’s yacht docking in Aceh, Indonesia yesterday.
“No information on this has reached me,” Zahid said at a press conference today.
He was asked if Malaysian authorities had received any information regarding Low’s yacht.
Low’s superyacht, the Equanimity, was docked at Sabang, a town in Pulau Weh, northern Aceh, about 9am Malaysian time before departing later in the evening.
As of 4pm today, the yacht was spotted near the island of Phuket, Thailand which appeared to be moored alongside a Cayman Islands-registered ship, the Lady D.
The Equanimity had allegedly been paid for using monies allegedly siphoned off from 1MDB.
Meanwhile, when asked to clarify his remarks that the police investigation into Low had been closed, Zahid repeated what he said earlier.
Asked further if the Attorney-General’s Chambers had ruled that there would be no further action, he replied: “I don’t want to involve other agencies.”
Zahid revealed yesterday that the police had closed its investigation into Low, while denying reports that Malaysia was currently requesting help from Interpol to locate the businessperson.
He clarified that the request for assistance was no longer active.
UP TO THE COURT, NOT ZAHID, TO DETERMINE IF JHO LOW SHOULD BE CHARGED
MEANWHILE, according to The Malaysian Insight:
IT is irresponsible of the government to close investigations into Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, when the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal remains unresolved, said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin today.
“It’s an action that is very irresponsible,” Muhyiddin said in one of three short videos released on Bersatu’s Facebook page this afternoon.
He was responding to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s about-turn on the status of the probe into Jho Low, the man at the centre of 1MDB’s complex web of international transactions.
Zahid yesterday told Parliament that the police had enlisted Interpol’s assistance to track down Low, but later issued a statement on the same day saying that case files involving Low were closed.
Muhyiddin said Zahid must explain the “confusing” about-turn.
The former deputy prime minister also refuted Zahid’s claim that 1MDB was no longer a relevant issue in another two-minute video.
“It’s a huge issue. It involves issues about the country’s dignity, national resources, scandal and abuse of power,” said Muhyiddin.
“It’s a topic that cannot be covered up.”
In another three-minute video, Muhyiddin also criticised the Parliament speaker for rejecting questions about 1MDB without explanation.
He said the speaker had rejected 10 questions related to 1MDB for this sitting, and another 30 questions in the July sitting.
“The prime minister has not given an explanation that is satisfactory to all parties,” said Muhyiddin, adding that MPs had the right to raise important issues in the Dewan Rakyat.
In Parliament earlier today, Amanah’s Sepang MP, Hanipa Maidin, said Zahid was no position to say that there was no case against Low, as the financier had never been arrested or questioned.
“The deputy prime minister said Jho Low will not be charged. That’s the worst statement. How can you say that? It is up to the court to decide that. Jho Low was not even arrested, questioned, or brought to court. It is funny when such statements come from him (Zahid),” said Hanipa.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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