The Indonesian authorities' seizure of a superyacht linked to Malaysian businessperson Jho Low offers a glimpse of what would transpire if Pakatan Harapan wins federal power in the 14th general election, Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Azmin Ali said.

“Low and his kleptocratic conspirators will face justice and all the stolen assets worth billions of ringgit will be brought back to Malaysia and used to help the people,” he said.

“This is why I filed for a judicial review last year against Malaysian authorities, namely the inspector-general of police, to (compel him to) arrest and detain Jho Low and bring him back to Malaysia to face justice,” Azmin added, referring to a case decided by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 3 last year.

Since his application was rejected, Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, said there is, therefore, a need to vote for change in the coming election.

In a separate media statement, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil urged Low to surrender to Malaysian authorities in order to clear his name over alleged involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

"Low should urgently return to Malaysia and clear his name by surrendering himself to be charged in our courts.

"This means that the attorney-general should proceed to press charges against Low and other individuals believed to be involved in the 1MDB scandal, regardless of their background or positions," Fahmi added.

At the same time, he said, Low should also clear his name in other countries where the authorities were investigating 1MDB, including the US, Singapore, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

Fahmi said his call was made as Low, through his spokesperson yesterday, decried the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) "global overreach" after his superyacht Equanimity was seized by authorities in Bali earlier that afternoon.

"So long as Low is not charged in any Malaysian court or in any other court in the investigating countries, the perception of his involvement and that of other related individuals would be strengthened," he added.

Meanwhile, a coalition of youth NGOs called “Anak Muda Cari Jho Low”, called on IGP Mohamad Fuzi Harun to act on the latest news reports and arrest the tycoon for extradition to Malaysia.

Spokesperson Faiz Fadzil said the arrest of Low would be a crucial step forward for criminal investigations on the case in Malaysia and towards resolving the 1MDB scandal.

"If Low is in Indonesia right now, he should be found and arrested for extradition to Malaysia as Malaysia has an extradition treaty with Indonesia," Faiz (photo) added.

He also pointed that while it had taken the Indonesian police only eight days to act in coordination with the US FBI, Malaysian police have failed to do so despite numerous reports lodged.

Misappropriated from 1MDB

The DOJ claimed Low had commissioned the superyacht to be built at an estimated cost of US$250 million (RM1 billion), using the money it claims that had been misappropriated from 1MDB.

The DOJ had filed a civil forfeiture suit to seize the superyacht in June last year, along with other alleged items purchased with funds misappropriated from 1MDB, including those that purportedly belong to Low.

Yesterday, it was reported Indonesian police Criminal Investigation Bureau's director of economic and special crimes, Agung Setya, confirmed that the owner of the vessel was not one of the 34 people on board during the raid.

The DOJ believes that at least US$4.5 billion had been misappropriated from 1MDB by Malaysian government officials, among others, and is looking to recover approximately US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired in the US using these stolen funds.

The move is part of its anti-kleptocracy operations to seize funds being laundered through the US financial system. Low had reportedly dismissed the DOJ’s actions as signs of the US global overreach and said the allegations were politically motivated.

In February last year, it was reported that a private jet that the DOJ alleged belongs to Low was impounded at Singapore’s Selatan Airport. However, Singaporean authorities had declined to comment on the matter.

READ ALSO:

Jho Low decries DOJ's 'global overreach' after superyacht seized

'Jho Low not on board seized superyacht'

Equanimity been on our radar for 8 days - Indonesian cops

Indonesia, FBI seize Jho Low's yacht Equanimity in Bali

The hunt for Jho Low's mega yacht - The Equanimity

But money can't buy Jho love

Kerr hands over US$8.1m worth of jewellery to DOJ

The 1MDB players - in their own words

What's in DOJ's third and latest bombshell?

DOJ: US$620m returned 'donation' used to buy pink diamond for MO1's wife

'Dual national Low bought over US$1b in properties with 1MDB cash'

Yacht, diamonds and more in DOJ's latest 1MDB filing

DiCaprio returns Brando Oscar as part of 1MDB probe

DOJ: Najib’s stepson bought properties, posters using funds from Aabar BVI

'Jho Low's award-winning superyacht bought with 1MDB funds'

DOJ: Jho Low spent US$10m on jewellery for Aussie model, mom

DOJ details 1MDB's alleged plot to cover up 'relatively worthless' fund units