PETALING JAYA: Certain parties are not keen for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, to be brought back to Malaysia, as his return could expose more corruption, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that his main priorities currently were addressing governance issues and systemic corruption in the nation.
Anwar said this during Al-Jazeera’s 101 East programme when he was asked if certain camps in Malaysia don’t want Jho Low back in the country.
"I believe so, I am sure… the fact that his (Low) return would probably expose more. I do not want to be distracted to consider this as the only issue that the prime minister Anwar has to deal with.
"Anwar has to deal with the issue of governance and rid this country of systemic corruption...it is a major, arduous battle and it does not start and end with 1MDB," said Anwar during the interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday (May 15).
Anwar said the government was trying its best to locate Low, and when he first became prime minister in 2022, he ordered all enforcement agencies to do their best on the matter.
“Because, he is quite instrumental and his testimony will be pivotal in actually closing and putting an end to this case,” said Anwar.
Anwar said “Yes” when asked if the process of bringing back Low was complicated.
Asked if Low was in China, Anwar said it cannot be established.
“No, we cannot establish he is in China, seriously, on record. But, we suspect some movements, if I say some more, it will be more complicated,” added Anwar.
Asked why it was so difficult to bring back Low, given the mountain of evidence against the fugitive, Anwar said, “We don’t know where he is”.
In 2023, Anwar had said negotiations had been ongoing with several countries to speed up the process of repatriating Low.
Last year, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the police were committed to locating Low, but there were no leads on his whereabouts.
