Hisham unsure if Jho Low is really in China

 

PARLIAMENT | Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told the Dewan Rakyat that he did not know whether fugitive financier Low Taek Jho was actually in China.

If he really was there, Hishammuddin (above) explained that there would have been no reason for Wisma Putra to not help the Malaysian police to bring home the wanted businessperson, better known as Jho Low, who is associated with the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal.

Hishammuddin was responding to a question by RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) regarding the government's efforts to bring Low home and smoothen the good relations between the two countries.

"I do not know if he (Low) is truly in China.

"If Malaysian police had confirmed his location, there would have been no reason Wisma Putra would not help to bring Jho Low back to justice," he said when wrapping up the debate on the Supply Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

On Dec 4, 2018, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court issued an arrest warrant against Low to assist the 1MDB investigation.

Low is not only wanted by the authorities for his involvement in the 1MDB fund misappropriation case but is also an important material witness in the trial involving former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Since then, various efforts have been made by the Malaysian authorities to repatriate Low.

On July 5, 2018, Low was confirmed to have fled to Macau, China.

On Oct 22 of the same year, Hishammuddin offered to find Low to settle the 1MDB case.

He said then that the offer was made in a personal capacity and not a request from Putrajaya.

At the time, some parties alleged that Hishammuddin made the offer to find Low to avoid a MACC investigation, which he denied.

Rohingya issue in the Asean summit

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had made clear Malaysia's policies during the 37th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Nov 12.

Regarding the issue of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, Malaysia is of the opinion that the problems in Myanmar's Rakhine state should be addressed immediately.

"The prime minister reiterated Asean's need to find a comprehensive solution to the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine and at the same time, the issue of Rohingya refugees affecting the security and stability of regional countries, including Malaysia.

"According to the prime minister, Malaysia cannot accommodate more Rohingya refugees," he said.

The Sembrong MP informed the House that Malaysia has also urged the international community and international organisations to discuss concrete measures on the issue of Palestinian-Israeli relations.

"The prime minister had also assured the people of Sabah on Aug 29 that Malaysia will not compromise on any issue involving the sovereignty of the state of Sabah and will defend Sabah forever," he added, in reference to the resurrection this year of an old Philippines claim to the Malaysian state. - Mkini