Malaysia Denies Jho Low's Return
Malaysia denies fugitive Jho Low entered country for 1MDB talks, citing ongoing liabilities.
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Key Points
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Immigration officials had no information regarding Jho Low's return, and the police said they would investigate the matter after reports surfaced in May.
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As of June 30, the government had paid RM42.5 billion in 1MDB-related debts and commitments, and RM8.9 billion in government-guaranteed Islamic MTNs are outstanding (RM5 billion principal and RM3.9 billion in interest) with maturation in 2039.
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Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong responded in the Dewan Rakyat with a direct denial: 'I deny it. I deny the allegation.'
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The reports also allege a misappropriation of at least US$4.5 billion from 1MDB linked to Jho Low, underscoring the scale of alleged wrongdoing.
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Prosecutions and civil actions related to 1MDB continue, with Rosmah Mansor named among those targeted alongside Najib Razak, Tarek Obaid, Patrick Mahony, and other entities.
Malaysia's government has flatly denied reports that fugitive financier Jho Low secretly returned to the country last year with a Chinese delegation to negotiate 1MDB repayments. Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong told parliament: 'I deny it. I deny the allegation.' South China Morning Post and Business Today reported the denial, which came in response to parliamentary questions raised by lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The allegations originated from Sarawak Report and The Wall Street Journal. They claimed Low — who faces multiple charges in both the US and Malaysia — had entered the country to discuss a repayment deal linked to the massive 1MDB corruption scandal, in which at least US$4.5 billion was allegedly misappropriated.
Government Says No Record of Jho Low's Return
Immigration officials said they had no record of Jho Low entering Malaysia. Police confirmed in May they were investigating the claim but had not verified his presence. Liew told the Dewan Rakyat — Malaysia's lower house of parliament — that any such talks would have involved the Finance Ministry. He stressed that sovereignty concerns would be at stake in any such negotiation, according to Market Screener.
Jho Low has been a fugitive since the 1MDB scandal broke. He faces charges in both Malaysia and the United States. His current whereabouts remain unknown. The Malaysian government has long sought his return to face trial.
Malaysia Still Owes RM20 Billion From 1MDB Debts
The government laid out the full scale of the 1MDB financial wreckage in parliament. Total past and remaining liabilities stand at about RM51.4 billion. As of June 30, Malaysia had paid RM42.5 billion in 1MDB-related debts and commitments. The government has recovered RM31.3 billion so far, according to Business Today.
Still outstanding are RM8.9 billion in government-guaranteed Islamic bonds — RM5 billion in principal and RM3.9 billion in interest — which mature in 2039. If no further assets are recovered, the estimated net liability is RM20.1 billion. That is money Malaysian taxpayers are on the hook for.
Prosecutions Continue Against Najib, Rosmah, and Others
The government stressed that legal action tied to 1MDB is still moving forward. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are among those being prosecuted. Others named include Tarek Obaid and Patrick Mahony. Both criminal and civil cases are ongoing, according to Market Screener.
The 1MDB scandal has been called one of the largest financial frauds in history. At least US$4.5 billion was allegedly stolen from the Malaysian state fund. The case has implicated bankers, politicians, and businesspeople across multiple countries. Jho Low is considered a central figure in the alleged scheme.
Why the Secret Talks Claim Rattled Kuala Lumpur
The reports of a secret entry by Jho Low hit a nerve in Malaysia. If true, they would suggest the government was negotiating with a wanted fugitive outside normal legal channels. Liew's strong denial — repeated twice in parliament — shows how politically sensitive the claim is, according to Head Topics.
The current administration under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has positioned itself as a reformist government cleaning up the 1MDB mess left by Najib. Any suggestion of secret back-channel deals with Jho Low would undermine that image. The denial was swift and unambiguous.
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