Gov't can strip Jho Low's citizenship, says Zahid

The government can strip 1MDB-linked businessman Jho Low of his Malaysian citizenship if it is found that he also holds a United States passport.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this in a written parliamentary to Dr Azman Ismail (PKR-Kuala Kedah), who asked if Low committed an immigration offence by holding two different US passports under aliases.

This is based on a testimony heard in a 1MDB-linked trial in Singapore, Azman said.

Zahid said Malaysia does not recognise dual citizenship and those wanting to take on another citizenship have to forego their Malaysian citizenship.

"In the case of Low, the government through the Home Ministry can take action by stripping him of his Malaysian citizenship if it is proven he holds two United States passports under different names," Zahid said.

The home minister told Parliament in March that Low is still a Malaysian as the ministry did not receive any application from him to forego his Malaysian citizenship.

Sarawak Report said Low holds two US passports, which is possible under US law.

In January, a Singapore court heard that Low used the name "Eric Tan Kim Loong" in dealing with Falcon Private Bank Singapore's branch manager Jens Sturzeneggar.

The name Eric Tan had cropped up repeatedly in investigations as the owner of several firms, which allegedly received 1MDB funds.

Meanwhile, in a separate parliamentary reply, Zahid said the police had handed over their investigation papers on 1MDB's former chief executive officer, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The authorities are waiting for further instructions from the prosecutors, he said.

Zahid said this in reply to Abd Aziz Sheikh Fadzir (BN-Kulim Bandar Baru), who asked for the latest status of police investigation into Shahrol, who was named by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) as culpable for 1MDB mismanagement.

Abd Aziz is a member of the PAC.- Mkini