Umno veteran and former minister Rais Yatim has panned Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak for defending businessperson Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

This was after Salleh said reports about Low being the owner of superyacht the Equanimity, which was seized off the coast of Bali, was an example of "fake news".

On Wednesday, Indonesian authorities had seized the yacht in a joint operation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The yacht was allegedly built using funds misappropriated from 1MDB and laundered through the US financial system. 

It is among several such assets that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to forfeit. 

"The communications minister was quick in denying that the luxury yacht belonged to Jho Low.

"He should have waited. Jho Low had already accused the US and Indonesia of going overboard. It is clear that Jho Low has an interest (in the matter).

"Why so hasty in defending Jho Low? (He) should defend justice," Rais said in a Twitter posting.

On Thursday, Salleh said the claims about the Equanimity were "unverified and unproven".

"Apart from the bare allegations contained in the lawsuit, the US Department of Justice has not shown any tangible proof that Jho Low is the actual owner of the yacht, or that it was purchased with funds from 1MDB," he said.

The DOJ believes that at least US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB and is seeking to seize US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired using the stolen funds.