The government denies claims fugitive financier Jho Low secretly returned to Malaysia with a Chinese delegation to discuss a 1MDB settlement.
PETALING JAYA: The government has denied allegations that fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, secretly returned to Malaysia as part of a Chinese delegation to negotiate a settlement linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong dismissed the claim in the Dewan Rakyat after Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) sought clarification over reports by investigative portal Sarawak Report and The Wall Street Journal alleging that Jho Low had entered Malaysia for discussions related to 1MDB.
“I deny the allegation,” Liew said.
Raising the matter in Parliament, Syed Saddiq said any negotiations involving the recovery or repayment of 1MDB funds would necessarily involve the Finance Ministry, as such funds would be managed through the ministry’s accounts.
“The country has suffered losses exceeding RM51 billion due to the 1MDB scandal, yet the alleged mastermind behind the scandal, Jho Low, remains at large and there appears to be no further action taken against him,” he said.
Syed Saddiq questioned whether reports claiming that Jho Low had entered Malaysia with a Chinese delegation to negotiate a repayment package were accurate, saying the government had yet to provide any confirmation or denial on the matter.
“If it is true that Jho Low was allowed to enter the country to discuss matters related to 1MDB, despite being one of the most wanted individuals linked to the scandal, it would constitute a serious breach of Malaysia’s sovereignty.
“The government owes a clear and transparent answer on this matter,” he added.
Jho Low remains wanted in Malaysia and the United States, where he faces multiple charges, including corruption and money laundering, over his alleged role in the misappropriation of at least US$4.5 billion (RM18.3 billion) from 1MDB.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The 1MDB scandal, which involved the alleged misappropriation of billions of dollars from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund between 2009 and 2015, triggered investigations across several countries and became one of the world’s largest financial corruption cases.
The scandal also contributed to the downfall of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s government in the 2018 general election.
Jho Low, who has been described by US prosecutors as a key figure in the alleged fraud, has remained out of public view since 2015 while evading arrest.
