After Equanimity, Putrajaya sets sights on Jho Low’s jet
Nur Hasliza Mohd Salleh | August 12, 2018
The US$35 million jet was seized by Singaporean authorities in 2017.
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Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Jho Low’s jet must be brought back to Malaysia.
KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is now looking to seize a private jet belonging to businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, which was impounded by Singaporean authorities in 2017.
This comes days after Low’s luxurious yacht was handed over to the Malaysian government by the Indonesian authorities which had seized it.
“We have to bring the jet back,” Dr Mahathir Mohamad said after visiting an art exhibition here.
The prime minister was asked to comment on reports that his administration was considering bringing the jet back to Malaysia.
It was reported last year that the US$35 million Bombardier Global 5000 was impounded by Singaporean authorities and grounded at the Seletar Airport.
The aircraft is part of some US$1 billion in assets allegedly acquired with funds misappropriated from 1MDB.
When asked if discussions were being held with Singapore, Mahathir said that “somebody else is doing it” and that his government was trying to get back the money stolen from the country.
“We know who has it but of course we don’t know where they are and for us to get access to the money, it will depend on us proving that it is ours.”
Low’s US$250 million superyacht, the Equanimity, has been held at a cruise centre in Port Klang since its arrival in Malaysian waters on Tuesday.
It is at the centre of US investigations into state investment firm 1MDB. Low allegedly acquired the yacht with funds plundered from 1MDB.
Indonesian police seized the yacht at the request of the US authorities and handed it over to Malaysia after a recent visit by Mahathir to the country.
Mahathir also sarcastically responded to Low’s claim that the Malaysian government was “putting words into the mouth” of the US authorities when the prime minister said the yacht’s arrival in Malaysia last week was after negotiations with the Americans.
“I am very proud that I can put words into the US government’s (mouth). I must be greater than (Donald) Trump,” he said, referring to the US president.
Low had, in a statement sent to FMT through his spokesman earlier today, said the repeated “misstatements” by Malaysia were embarrassing the US, as they had said they had no involvement in the seizure of the yacht.
Mahathir suggested that Low should ask the US authorities if he had put words into their mouth.
“He can ask whether I put words into their mouth, whether I typed out the words and shoved it down their throat.”
