Dr Mahathir prods minister for knowing Jho Low better than Jho Low himself


Amin Iskandar

Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaking at an event in Taiping, Perak, today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2018.

DR Mahathir Mohamad has continued to roast a cabinet minister over his comments about a super yacht that was seized as part of investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister-designate skewered Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak for “knowing Jho Low better than Jho Low himself”.

Dr Mahathir was referring to Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, a central figure in the 1MBD scandal, whose yacht, The Equanimity, was seized in Indonesian waters last week.

“(Salleh) said the yacht does not belong to Jho Low. But Jho Low said it is his. So, Salleh Keruak knows Jho Low better than Jho Low himself”, Dr Mahathir said an event in Taiping, Perak, today.  

“People like this have ilmu ghaib (super powers). He knows more than the owner of the ship.”

Salleh had said that there was no proof that the yacht belonged to Jho Low or that it was bought with money stolen from 1MDB.

Low is said to be Prime Minister Najib Razak’s confidante and business adviser. He is also said to have close ties with several ministers.

He has been named by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) as the mastermind in a scheme to siphon billions of dollars from the state investment fund. It is alleged that the yacht was among various luxury assets purchased with money from 1MDB, a brainchild of Najib.

The DoJ has launched a criminal investigation into funds allegedly siphoned off from 1MDB and has sought to delay civil suits filed in the past two years to forfeit more than US$1 billion (RM4.3 billion) in real estate and other assets.

After The Equanimity was seized off Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday, Low accused the DoJ of “global overreach”.

A spokesman for the fugitive businessman said despite staying asset forfeiture proceedings, the DoJ had continued its “deeply flawed and politically-motivated” allegations of impropriety.

“It is, therefore, disappointing that rather than reflect on the deeply flawed and politically-motivated allegations, the DoJ is continuing with its pattern of global overreach – all based on entirely unsupported claims of wrongdoing.”

In his speech, Dr Mahathir said several countries had taken action in the 1MDB scandal except Malaysia, where no one has been prosecuted.

“The DoJ found that the yacht was bought by money that was stolen. Whose money is it? It’s our money. Najib established 1MDB, which did not do any business.

“It did not turn a sen of profit. It has debts of RM42 billion. Half of the money was siphoned to Jho Low.” – March 3, 2018.


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Comments


  • Ha ha ha upon kissing big momma's ass,super sohai keruak posses special dark force

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • I have to salute you old man. At such an age you are really witty in mind. Salleh has really got himself into a bind and now will be seen as a really moronic idiot. He thought that he had it good in his statement but was viewd by all as a foolish hollow statement to protect his master and hoping his actions will cast an aspiration of DPM materials. Sadly a portryal of boorish stock devoid of even an iota of intellect.A shame to the country that we have such minister voluntarily depicting himself by being overly dramatising his stupidity. Pathetic!!!!!!!! We can see now that in UmnoBN it takes more to be just a sycophant but blindly stupid makes the highest cut in the master eyes.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • In Bolehland, Salleh shot himself in his foot. It's not a surprise as he knows more about this fugitive than the DOJ themselves. Salleh comes from Sabah and the folks in Sabah today knows about their experience CAM better....he sounds more lacky than anyone in the current cabinet....LOL

    Posted 6 years ago by Crishan Veera · Reply

  • YB Senator Datuk Seri Panglima Md Salleh Md Said is just a Senator. Not representing views of rakyat. Dared not to fight Usukan again, which had made him the Chief Minister. Appointed to after being impressed by his blogging ability.

    What would be his greatest legacy in improving the ICT in Malaysia?

    Credit will still be given.. best blogger minister BN has ever had

    Posted 6 years ago by Manmohan Singh · Reply

  • But for Dedak benificiary, does it matter? BNM warned about Dedak receiver must exit but that is not what they are thinking.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Jho Low is said to be close to Najib. Jho Low certainly has proof of how the money he used to pay for the yacht came from. He now faces legal issue in USA and 1MDB is named to be linked to his yacht. Why has Jho Low not approached Najib to send a diplomatic note to US ambassador and US government to protect a Malaysian citizen of his right, and to protect the reputation of 1MDB, and hence Malaysia? The elegant silence on the part of Jho Low is deafening. Najib is totally in the dark about DOJ's accusation against 1MDB. Silence means consent, and unless Najib can claim that he knows not of DOJ accusation, then he has agreed to DOJ's accusations.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply