INTERVIEW | Former information minister Rais Yatim is a man known for his mastery of the Malay language and love for flowery prose.

In just one sentence, however, Rais recently caused a stir when he took to Twitter and took to task Communications and Multimedia Salleh Said Keruak’s for his statement that all claims related to the Equanimity superyacht linked to controversial businessperson Low Taek Jho or Jho Low were unverified and unproven.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Rais reminded his critics that he has a doctorate in law and as such had valid personal concerns over the apparent disregard for principles of law on issues related to Jho Low and 1MDB.

“When I see that no investigations have been carried out against him, (I question) why not? We have an international network.

“At the very least we can announce an investigation. Successful or not, that it is up to the system. But no file has been opened but yet we can say ‘there is no link’ (between Jho Low and 1MDB).

“This (refusal to investigate) raises questions within myself, a person who is quite familiar with the administration of the law,” said Rais, who is now International Islamic University Malaysia president, when met at his office on campus in Gombak.

Rais pointed out that an ordinary person if cited by certain parties over any case or mentioned in a police report would have been swiftly investigated.

“But this one (Jho Low) they (the authorities) did not want to (investigate). So there is a conflict with Article 8 of the Federal Constitution whereby everyone is equal under the law.

“That does not apply here. And that was my query,” he said in pointing out how multiple foreign jurisdictions were currently probing the 1MDB scandal.

As special adviser to the government, Rais insisted that he was only carrying out his duties and had no intentions to “take a swipe” at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, as interpreted by certain quarters from his tweets.

“How can I do that? He is my boss. He appointed me as an adviser. So what should I do? Should I just keep quiet?

“Of course, I can give advice to him and I have been in touch with certain parties. But some people said I am whining,” said Rais in reference to Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz.

“We don’t know yet who is really whining in this case. I want to raise the issue as a national polemic,” he stressed.

Nazri had previously accused both Rais and former minister Rafidah Aziz who also questioned the alleged inaction to investigate Jho Low, of holding grudges against the present government and as such the two should be ignored.

Rais, however, maintained that despite Salleh and Nazri’s attacks against him, his main intention was to restore Malaysia’s “soiled reputation” overseas.

In the one-hour interview, Rais laughed off the attacks against him by both Salleh and Nazri describing the two ministers who had “whacked” him as his “younger brothers”.

“Now suddenly Jasa is also ‘whacking’ me. So I questioned, which one is more important? Malaysia and Umno? Or Mr Jho Low?,” said Rais in reference to the government’s Special Affairs Department.

Jasa officer Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz had, in response to Rais’ previous remarks on an apparent “love” shown by certain quarters towards Jho Low, had urged the Umno veteran to resign from his post as adviser to the government.

“If Jho Low is more important, that is up to all of you to think about. Let the people know that.

“But for me, Malaysia is more important because the country’s reputation is being soiled,” added Rais who also expressed regret at how Jasa had strayed from its intended role to disseminate information on politics and current affairs.

Alluding to various foreign media reports on the 1MDB scandal, Rais further said it would be impossible for him to remain silent on the matter.

“We (critics from within Umno) must find a way to correct the situation.

“We are not claiming that the Equanimity belongs to Jho Low. We just want to know, please investigate, where did this yacht come from? Why was it such a big issue (overseas)?” he said.

“Malaysia’s reputation is being soiled. That (to restore it) was my intention,” he stressed.

The 1MDB matter is being investigated in multiple jurisdictions and has been described as the worst case of kleptocracy the world has seen.

The US Department of Justice believes at least US$4.5 billion in 1MDB funds was misappropriated and allegedly laundered through the financial system in the US and other countries.

The DOJ is seeking to seize US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired using the stolen money.

1MDB has denied any misappropriation of its money.