KUALA LUMPUR – The government has no plans to reward those who are able to provide critical information on the whereabouts of fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, but the public are nonetheless welcomed to help.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said this in a written parliamentary reply to separate questions raised by opposition lawmakers on efforts taken by the government to identify Low’s location.
Responding to Lim Lip Eng (Kepong-PH), Hamzah said the Royal Malaysian Police are of the opinion that obtaining the assistance of Interpol is more effective than providing rewards to members of the public with the latest information on Low and his associates.
The minister pointed out that this is because the Red Notice issued by the international agency involves cooperation of various countries, with more accurate intelligence.
“This method requires any of the 195 member states with information on Jho Low to channel their information to Malaysia, to allow for extradition,” he said.
Hamzah added that every information the police receives pertaining to Low’s whereabouts will be scrutinised for authenticity, including through international cooperation.
Lim had asked if the authorities have contacted journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope – the authors of the Billion Dollar Whale book on the rampant corruption involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) – following their claims that Low and his family were spotted in Shanghai Disneyland in China in 2019.
The DAP lawmaker also wanted to know why the government is not offering a reward for information on the wanted fugitive, said to be the mastermind behind the 1MDB scandal.
Separately, RSN Rayer (Jelutong-PH) had asked the minister to provide an update on the measures currently being taken by the authorities to hunt down Low.
To this, Hamzah stressed that the police have not stopped looking and remained committed in their effort to track down the Penang-born Low and extradite him to Malaysia to face criminal charges.
He said other than obtaining an Interpol Red Notice in 2018, police are also cooperating with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as authorities from Singapore and other countries.
“Police welcome any party with information pertaining to Low’s location to channel them via WhatsApp to the Commercial Crime Investigation Department Infoline at 013-211 1222, or by going to the nearest police station.” – The Vibes, October 5, 2022
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