Hisham: I'm willing to work with IGP to track down Jho Low

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says he will cooperate with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Fuzi Harun in the hunt for rogue businessman Low Taek Jho, or better known as Jho Low, to seek closure over the 1MDB controversy.

"If he (Jho Low) is in China, why didn't the authorities hand him over to us? That is why, as I understand, that the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and the Chinese authorities have formed a close working relationship.

"I will also work closely with the IGP, who previously said that he welcomes efforts in my personal capacity to assist them in this ongoing probe," said the former defence minister to reporters when met at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday (Oct 30).

On Oct 23, Hishammuddin had personally offered help to look for Jho Low until the "ends of the earth" and bring him back to face the music.

The Sembrong MP previously said he would use his contacts and links with the Chinese government in the pursuit of Jho Low.

At present, Hishammuddin said he is set to head to China to meet with his former counterparts over the matter in the near future.

"They still have a close relationship with me, but I'm unsure if Jho Low is still in China," he said.

Hishammuddin said he would head to China at his personal capacity in order to seek closure over the controversy surrounding the troubled 1MDB national sovereign fund.

At the same time, he also dismissed speculation that his offer to hunt for Jho Low was because he wanted to avoid facing graft investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"What the MACC has on me? I'm not corrupted. If there are any allegations that needed to be probed, why the MACC hasn't called me in for questioning until today?

"I'm not involved in this issue (corruption). People can say what they like. Let the MACC reveal themselves who they would like to investigate next," he said.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin reiterated that he has no intention to quit Umno, following claims by veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin that 40 Umno MPs might jump ship to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

"I have repeated many times that I will not leave Umno. Action speaks louder than words. Each MP has dignity and their own stance," he said, adding that Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had not approached him over the matter.

"People talk and people asked. But there must be good grounds for it. If it's just for the sake of jumping, why would I do that?" he questioned.

Recently, Umno was rocked by the exit of several of its stalwart leaders such as Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, among others.