POLICE officers’ leave has been frozen until the 14th general election concludes, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced. 

“This order has been in place for several weeks,” Zahid said after meeting the Kuala Lumpur police contingent this morning. 

He, however, did not entertain any other questions besides the ones on his police visit. 

A journalist asked about Indonesia’s seizure of luxury yacht Equanimity allegedly bought with 1MDB fund but the minister walked away. 

Zahid who is also home minister, said preparation by the police for the general election were “99%” complete. 

This includes taking necessary steps before the dissolution of Parliament until the polling day. 

Zahid claimed he was unsure about the date but stressed all preparations were being done on an “extraordinary” scale.

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Apandi Ali was reported by Malaysiakini as saying Putrajaya would not seek the return of Equanimity which belongs to Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, who is at the centre of alleged scandals involving the siphoning off of 1MDB funds to purchase luxury assets.

The stealing of 1MDB funds is being investigated in several countries and the US$250 million (RM979 million) yacht is listed in court action filings by the US Department of Justice to forfeit assets bought with funds allegedly misappropriated by Low. – March 2, 2018.