The govt is trying to get back all the money that has been stolen from the country, says Dr Mahathir

By TMR / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

The government is planning to bring back a private jet owned by businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, which is currently reported to be in Singapore.

“Yes, I think so, we have to bring it back,” Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said when asked to comment on reports that the government is eyeing to recover the private jet.

Asked on the discussion to bring the jet back to the country, Dr Mahathir said: “I don’t know somebody else is doing it.”

The government, according to Dr Mahathir, is trying to get back all the money that has been stolen from the country.

“We know who has it, but of course we do not know where they are. And the need for us to access the money depends on our proving that it is our money,” he said this after visiting an art exhibition “Tun M: A Forever Legacy” at the Perdana University yesterday.

It has been reported that the private jet was impounded bythe Singaporean authorities in 2017 and grounded at the Seletar Airport.

The Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft was reportedly part of some US$1 billion (RM4.1 billion) in assets allegedly acquired with funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Last week, the Equanimity superyacht-linked to Low had arrived in Pulau Indah following a request by Dr Mahathir to his counterpart Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during the former’s visit to the country in June.

Low, through his spokesperson had accused Dr Mahathir of “putting words into the mouth of the DoJ (US Justice Department)” and hijacking legal proceedings in the US by seizing the RM1 billion yacht.

“These repeated mis-statements by Malaysia are embarrassing the US, which has stressed it has no involvement in the illegal seizure of the vessel and will update the US court on Aug 17.”

“It is clear that the Dr Mahathir’s regime has no interest in a fair and just legal process. His hijacking of established and long-running legal proceedings in other countries, involving those governments (such as the US) in the Equanimity matter prove this beyond any doubt,” the statement read.

Commenting on Low’s accusation, Dr Mahathir said he is proud to be able to “put words into the US government’s mouth.”

“I must be greater than (Donald) Trump. Well, you can ask the US authority whether I did put the words. I typed out the thing properly and shove it down his throat. But, he (Jho Low) should accept that,” he added.

Meanwhile, MP Khairy Jamaluddin (Barisan Nasional -Rembau) asked Low to return and prove his innocence on 1MDB.

“Come back to Malaysia and face the authorities. If you are innocent, stop hiding. For as long as you are on the run and the other related court cases (SRC International Sdn Bhd) remain pending, my party cannot move beyond the 1MDB issue and rebuild,” Khairy said on his Twitter account yesterday.