Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein's offer to personally track down 1MDB-linked financier Low Taek Jho in China has elicited mixed responses from his fellow Umno lawmakers.

Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin believes that the task of returning the fugitive to Malaysia should not be a personal effort.

"It is an interesting statement from Hishammuddin that he wants to look for Low, but if he has any information, I hope it will be given to the government because that is the best way to bring back Low, who is wanted for investigation.

"Such things involve cooperation between government agencies in Malaysia and China, and involves laws... It should not be a personal effort. It should be done between governments," he told reporters at Parliament today.

Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz, meanwhile, termed Hishammuddin's offer bring Low back to face justice a "good gesture."

"Good, if Hishammuddin can bring back Low, that is great. Everyone wants to know where he is... because we want to know the truth of Low being the main player (in the 1MDB scandal)," he said.

Nazri (photo) also dismissed accusations that Hishammuddin only made the offer to evade the scrutiny of MACC, saying that it was just a mere "talk."

He added that similar accusations had been levelled at him for defending the agency in his past statements, but stressed that he had always done so during his tenure as a cabinet minister.

Nazri further pointed out that he had been investigated by the MACC – then known as the Anti-Corruption Agency – over the allegedly unlawful transfer of thousands of taxi permits to an individual in 2003.

"At that time, I was the entrepreneur development minister, but I have never been angry at them... I have always defended them.

"So now that I just happen to be in the opposition, I can't be saying they do not do any work. I do not play politics when it comes to this. I am telling the truth.

"I have always said that the MACC carries out their duties well and I maintain that," he said.

Hishammuddin volunteered to utilise his "prior relationships" with Beijing to track down Low yesterday, saying that he wanted to see closure in the 1MDB case. 

"If Jho Low is in China, I will personally go there to bring him back to face justice, because as long as he is overseas, the 1MDB issue will not be resolved," he had said.

On July 5, it was confirmed that Low had fled to Macau. He left the gambling haven six days later for an unspecified location.

An arrest warrant against Low and his father was issued on Aug 5 to enable both to be repatriated and face money-laundering charges in relation to 1MDB.

The warrant was obtained after charges were filed at the Putrajaya Sessions Court, in accordance with Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.