US ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir declined to weigh in on the seizure of the 1MDB-linked businessperson Jho Low's superyacht Equanimity, asking that queries be referred to the US Department of Justice.

She was asked whether the proceeds from the seizure of the yacht, believed to have been acquired using misappropriated funds from 1MDB, would eventually be repatriated to Malaysia.

“This is the part of the asset forfeiture matter that is already been happening with other items, so this also falls within what is already been happening.

“Anything further on this, I really have to refer you to the DOJ because it is an ongoing criminal investigation and enforcement action. I have no further comment, and truth is, it falls completely within the DOJ’s responsibility,” she told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today...