Believed that relationships with Middle-East royalty could be of value to Malaysia.
- Impressed by Jho Low’s strong Middle-East connections
- Alleged the late King Abdullah gave his blessings for 1MDB to enter into a joint-venture with PetroSaudi
- Claimed that Jho Low said he was acting on behalf of a Middle-Eastern royal member
In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who chaired 1MDB’s advisory board, was questioned on the reason Jho Low had such a significant role in the development fund.
“He has strategic relationships (with the leadership of several Middle-East royalty) that would benefit Malaysia and it was clear he had special relationships with the leadership under (Saudi Arabia’s) King Abdullah and his family and also the monarchies of certain countries especially in the UAE.
Najib meeting the King Abdullah in 2009.
“He had somehow developed these relationships which could be of value to Malaysia. That was in that context. What he did with them and all that, that’s beyond my knowledge.
“It was with this context that Jho Low represented the Middle-East partners and their dealings and partnerships with 1MDB,” he was quoted saying.
(L-R) Jho Low, Prince Turki, Najib, Rosmah and family.
Najib added that before 1MDB’s existence, Low had already taken control of three listed companies in Malaysia and had significant investments in the Iskandar Johor project with funding purportedly coming from Middle East countries.
“He certainly impressed many, including me, with his strong Middle-East connections.”
Najib also said the late King Abdullah gave his blessings for 1MDB to enter into a joint-venture with PetroSaudi, which was owned by Prince Turki Abdullah Al Saud, who later became deputy governor and then governor of Riyadh.
(L-R) Prince Turki, Najib and Rosmah.
Besides his explanation that these connections were beneficial to Malaysia, Najib did not elaborate.
On whether he had communicated with Low when the allegations against the latter surfaced, Najib said he had but it was some time ago.
“Yes, I did (communicate with him) and he said it was not for him. He said he was acting on a Middle-Eastern royal member’s behalf. That was the response he gave,” Najib was quoted as saying.
Najib said he did not ask about the Equanimity yacht at that time as he was not aware of its existence.