Frustrated for coming under fire, businessman Jho Low has accused certain quarters in Umno of playing the racial card to create the impression that the "Chinaman stole the money and blew it on alcohol".

In an interview with business monthly Euromoney , Jho Low said detractors have painted him as the main person in transforming the Terrengganu Investment Authority (TIA) into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

He pointed out that five other TIA board members and advisers, such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Boston Consulting and McKinsey, were free from scrutiny.

Low lamented that his partying and links with Hollywood have also been exploited by critics.

"I made money and I spent it, and it's: 'Oh, he must've made it from TIA/1MDB.' I mean, that's basically the accusation.

"And because there are all these pictures of me and Paris Hilton drinking and all that, then you play to the bumiputra card: 'Oh, the Chinaman stole all the money and blew it all on alcohol.'

"And then I'm just like, I must be the dumbest person ever, if I really made money off the government and then to blow it like there is no tomorrow, it's like about the dumbest thing you can do," Low added.

'I know stepson well'

When Euromoney pointed to Low that he is often consulted by prospective investors in 1MDB, the latter said this was due to his knowledge of Middle Eastern business, particularly in Abu Dhabi.

On his ties with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s family, Low said he has been friends with Najib's stepson Riza Aziz ( centre in photo ) for 16 years and this was being used against him.

"I mean, I know the stepson well, but I'm not sure I would agree that I'm the wife's (Rosmah Mansor) best friend," he added.

In the interview, Low had also remarked "those Umno guys are spin masters", prompting Umno Youth Khairy Jamaluddin to call for a probe on the businessman.

The businessman said although 1MDB had sought his advice on certain matters, he had never profited from it and has no official role in the firm.

He claimed that his only links with the company was that he had helped set up TIA - 1MDB's predecessor.