Zahid denies Malaysia still seeking Interpol's help to find Jho Low

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied reports quoting him as saying that Malaysia is seeking Interpol's help to track down Penang-born businessperson Jho Low.

"The deputy prime minister's office vehemently denies reports made by several 'social media' that had manipulated the answer by Zahid that police had asked Interpol to track down Low.

"The deputy prime minister's answer to an additional question by the Gombak MP (Azmin Ali) clearly states that there is no case to charge," his office stated in a statement tonight.

The statement added that police had fostered good ties with Interpol while investigating the case, but that police have closed the case and that there were no requests by Interpol regarding the case.

"However, the media created an issue as though there is a new search for Low. That is not true at all," the statement added.

Earlier today, Zahid was reported as saying in the Dewan Rakyat that the government had indeed sought assistance from Interpol to locate Low.

"We have indeed requested Interpol to find the person mentioned by Gombak. We are confident that Interpol has acted professionally," Malaysiakini quoted him as saying this morning.

The following is a translated full transcript of his exchange with Azmin.

Azmin: The cooperation that exists involves business and financial activities and crimes, where police can ask for Interpol's help to detain and investigate a case. 

I have brought this up a few months ago, in which police should get Interpol's help to locate or determine the location of Jho Low, who has been mentioned in many international reports as being involved in the financial and business crimes. 

My question is, what is the police's position in this matter, and will police seek Interpol's help to detain and bring back Jho Low for the purposes of an investigation into the biggest financial scandal in the country. I ask for Yang Amat Berhormat's (Zahid) views.

Zahid: Even though this was not the original question, I wish to state that the ties with (Interpol) are not just (inaudible) formed, in fact, the Interpol president is the vice minister of public security of China.

Regarding this case, we actually have made a request to Interpol to look for the whereabouts of the person mentioned by Gombak. 

We are very confident that Interpol acted professionally and police have not received any detailed information from Interpol. 

But we are confident what has been done by international bodies especially intelligence, had been finalised and we are confident that the case is no longer relevant except to be raised by dissatisfied politicians.- Mkini