The seizure of the superyacht linked to controversial tycoon Jho Low proves that action can be taken against those involved in 1MDB even if they are not in the country.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said this when commenting on the joint operation to seize the yacht in Bali by Indonesian police and the US' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) yesterday.

“If the (Malaysian) police say he (Low) is not in the country, then the case in Indonesia shows that even though he is not in the US, action can still be taken against him,” Muhyiddin said at a press conference at the Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

If Indonesia can take action based on the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit, why couldn't Malaysia do the same, he asked.

This was especially so since the 1MDB issue originated in Malaysia, he added.

“For example, now that the yacht has been seized, can’t an arrest warrant for Jho Low be issued?” he asked.

Indonesian news reports yesterday indicated that the Equaminity, supposedly worth US$250 million (RM1 billion), had been in Indonesian waters since November last year and was housing 34 crew members.

Low was not on the yacht when it was seized.

The yacht is part of assets the DOJ is seeking to forfeit on the grounds that it was purportedly purchased using money stolen from 1MDB.

Putrajaya has consistently maintained that 1MDB funds are not missing.

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