Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib ignored my advice to act against Jho Low, says former minister Khairy

SHAH ALAM, Selangor - Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar revealed that he had suggested to then Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak that action be taken against fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.

Mr Khairy said that taking such action could allow the now jailed former prime minister to confess that he had been deceived, similar to his recent apology, reported Malay daily Sinar Harian.

However, Najib declined to act, arguing that Low, commonly known as Jho Low, was a legitimate and successful businessman.

Mr Khairy said shortly after that, Najib’s deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Rural Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal were dismissed from Cabinet.

“Instructions were then given to Cabinet members to refrain from discussing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Everything was to be managed solely by Najib as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance,” Mr Khairy said at a podcast session on Oct 30.

According to Khairy, in addition to Muhyiddin, Mohd Shafie, and deputy minister Mukhriz Mahathir, several other Cabinet members consistently challenged and questioned Najib regarding the 1MDB case.

He said this after Najib publicly apologised to the Malaysian people for the 1MDB debacle.

In a statement read by his son, Datuk Mohd Nizar, at the Kuala Lumpur court complex on Oct 24, Najib expressed deep sorrow over the 1MDB corruption incident during his tenure as prime minister and finance minister.

However Mr Khairy said: “If we take Najib’s apology at face value, claiming he was deceived, then as former Damansara Member of Parliament Tony Pua pointed out, we have to ask: Why didn’t Najib take further action when this issue came to light? Why dismiss the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister, the Attorney-General, or the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)?

“That behaviour is inconsistent with someone who claims to have been cheated,” he added. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK