Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has suggested that certain parties may be reluctant to see fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, returned to Malaysia, as his presence could reveal further wrongdoing.
Speaking on Al Jazeera’s 101 East, Anwar confirmed that there are individuals who do not want Low—wanted in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal—brought back.
“Yes,” he replied when asked directly. “I believe so, I am sure…the fact that his return would probably expose more. I do not want to be distracted into treating this as the only issue I have to handle as prime minister.
“I must address governance and eradicate systemic corruption in this country. It’s a major, arduous battle, and it does not start and end with 1MDB,” he told host Mary Ann Jolley.
On Low’s whereabouts, Anwar said the authorities are trying to find him. He noted that one of his first actions upon becoming prime minister was to instruct all enforcement agencies to do whatever they could to track Low down.
“I think he is quite instrumental, and his testimony will be pivotal in actually closing… putting an end to this case,” he said.
Addressing the difficulty of bringing Low back, Anwar said no one knows for certain where he is. “We cannot establish if he is in China. I mean, seriously, on record…but we suspect some movements. If I say more, there will be more complications,” he added.
Last year, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police were pursuing Low but had no leads on his location. In May 2023, Anwar acknowledged that negotiations to repatriate Low were ongoing but described the process as complicated, involving multiple countries, intelligence agencies, and Interpol.
Anwar emphasised that the 1MDB scandal is just one of several cases involving the theft of billions by former leaders. He said that while public focus has largely remained on Najib and 1MDB, corruption in Malaysia extends further.
“I was one of the strong proponents against the 1MDB financial scandal and stressed that the truth must be uncovered, but I also know that billions were stolen by many other leaders,” he said.
“1MDB is a major ongoing case…but some are obsessed with only Najib and 1MDB. This obsession I do not share.
“If you listen to them, the only problem in Malaysia is Najib and the 1MDB scandal. I’m telling you, yes, it’s part of the scandal. But it was not just Najib — it was prime ministers before him, finance ministers before him and after him. Go after them. Why protect some? Why have this obsession?” he asked.
Anwar added that as prime minister, he now has access to more information. “I know quite a bit more, and I’m saying yes, 1MDB was a big major financial scandal — but there are many other billions stolen that must be resolved,” he said.
When pressed on these other cases, Anwar said investigations are ongoing and criticised those who condemn Najib while ignoring other corrupt leaders.
“The critics of Najib appear to be completely muted when it involves past leaders who have squandered billions.
“My point is, go after the offenders…I want this country to save itself from corrupt leaders and teach those who are corrupt a lesson. At least take back the funds and return them to serve the people,” he said.
On a separate matter, Anwar explained that he brought Najib’s royal pardon request to the Pardons Board because it was his duty as prime minister to remain impartial.
Asked whether critics might see this as politically motivated—given his reliance on Najib’s party, UMNO, to stay in power—Anwar responded: “You are damned if you do, you are damned if you don’t. So finally, you do the right thing. What is the right thing? The right given to every single convict in the Federal Territory to submit a request for review…I have done that.
“To submit a request for a review…not a decision. I was imprisoned first by Mahathir for many years, then by Najib. But I said, look, we should go beyond that. I do not harbour that sort of bitterness because I think it is a disease.
“The issue is, forgive me, why is this obsession with this man (Najib) who is in prison? For God’s sake! He is in prison! And those who are plundering with their billions are still free, and you (critics) do not bother,” he said.
Anwar smiled when Jolley mentioned Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, receiving a US$27 million pink diamond allegedly gifted by a Middle Eastern royal. He said he had already raised the matter in the past.
“Some of the issues were taken up by Anwar. What is the deal? My point is that he (Najib) is now in prison, and the case is ongoing. Why the obsession with Najib when there are many other cases too?
“Have we stopped prosecuting? No. Has the case stopped? No. Is the case ongoing? Yes. Okay, move on. What about the rest? I think there is a blatant, nasty trick by some of these crooks who continue to highlight Najib repeatedly so that their case is ignored.
“Let us run this country and get back to proper governance, rule of law, judicial independence…let us run this country and not be bogged down by one obsession,” he said.