Jho Low’s US pardon bid ‘non-issue’, Putrajaya won’t oppose – PMPutrajaya will not file a protest against fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho’s application for pardon from United States President Donald Trump.
According to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, while Malaysia does not support Low’s attempt, it is a matter for the US and is considered a “non-issue” for Malaysia.
“We are not supporting that route. But of course, it’s the US, their own business,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying…..
“Even if he has submitted it, it is not an issue that we should discuss because he is still undergoing this process in court,” he said…
In 2024, Low struck a settlement with the US Department of Justice for the return of US$100 million (RM450 million) being sought in a civil forfeiture suit.
However, the financier – who is believed to be hiding in China – is still wanted on criminal charges, including alleged conspiracy to embezzle 1MDB funds.
This low key response from the prime minister comes a day after Sarawak Report revealed that negotiators were seeking that Malaysia drop charges and permanently remove its Red Notice against the country’s best known fraudster as part of a settlement of 1MDB related debts raised from China.
It would appear to be a contradiction of the sentiments expressed by the Chairman of the 1MDB Asset Recovery Task Force, Johari Abdul Ghani, who responded “As far as I’m concerned, I’m against the pardon” when questioned about parallel attempts by the fugitive to get a Presidential pardon in the United States.
Is the PM hedging his remarks owing to the delicacy of Malaysia’s own situation on the same topic? So far, there is no ‘court proceeding’ to wait upon, given neither the US nor Malaysia has done more than issue wanted notices.
Jho Low’s tactics seem clear in that he is piggybacking every opportunity to get off the hook by flashing his cash. The timing of the US pardon request in advance of a visit to China by Trump, with his businessman son in tow, appears crassly intended. Without doubt the President and his family businesses would reject any investment opportunities that appeared to be linked to such a decision.
Likewise, Malaysia must make clear there will be no writing off of charges against Jho Low in return for economic favours from China. The noticeable disappearance of the Red Notice request that appears to have coincided with the arrival of Jho’s US lawyers flashing RM1.5 billion in KL, with ex-AG Apandi acting as mediator (in 2022), should be rectified in response to the many queries and requests that have been made.
In the absence of a trial there is no sentence for Malaysia to pardon, but if charges can continue against Sarawak Report for briefly mistaking a sister for a wife, it should be confirmed that they have not been set aside for the biggest ever financial fraudster allegedly on record, particularly in return for financial favours.
Malaysia should be calling on the US to use its influence not to pardon a fugitive but to urge China to hand him over to Malaysia, the scene and prime victim of his crimes.