In light of fugitive businessperson Jho Low's claim of innocence, Deputy Law Minister Mohamed Hanipa Maidin has sarcastically questioned if the rakyat are the ones “guilty” of misreading the 1MDB affair.

He referred to recent statements posted on Low’s newly revamped website. 

“The sentence he used on his new website is 'let me be clear: I am innocent'.

“He should have written ‘I am presumed innocent’. That is more accurate,” Hanipa said in a statement today.

Like Low, former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had also stressed that he was innocent in the 1MDB affair.

“When he (Najib) was freed on bail, Reuters reported that he said 'I am confident of my innocence, I believe in my innocence',” Hanipa said in reference. 

“Perhaps you are all correct in saying you are not guilty in these 1MDB-related cases.

“Those who are confirmed to be guilty are us rakyat who rejected BN in the 14th general election, one of the reasons being the 1MDB issue. Perhaps,” the Sepang MP said sarcastically.

Najib was previously freed on RM1 million bail after he was charged with the alleged misappropriation of RM42 million from former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, is presently subject to an arrest warrant by the Putrajaya Sessions Court under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001. 

The police have since filed criminal charges him and his father in absentia for allegedly misappropriating 1MDB funds. 

The US Department of Justice previously named Low as the central figure in the 1MDB affair.