KUALA LUMPUR: Billionaire Low Taek Jho’s passport has been canceled by the Immigration Department.
It’s director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said Low's passport was cancelled on June 15, following a request by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that is in the midst of an extensive probe on the embezzlement of funds related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
"We received the request from (MACC chief commissioner) Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull on Raya Day and we (proceeded) to cancel his passport immediately," he said at a Hari Raya open house held at the department’s headquarters, here, today.
Mustafar confirmed that the cancellation followed provisions under the Immigration Act to bar the embattled figure’s movements as he is required to present himself in Malaysia for questioning by the authorities.
Last month, reports surfaced that Low or Jho Low as he is more commonly known as, who was identified by authorities as a dealmaker in 1MDB transactions was prepared to meet MACC investigators in Dubai.
Mohd Shukri however issued a statement to say that the graftbusters do not do interviews in Dubai and Jho Low should come back to Malaysia to give his statement.
On news that former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had two passports following news of the court order to impound the documents, Mustafar said that there was nothing unique about the leader having a diplomatic one besides his regular passport.
"It doesn’t matter if he has two passports because he is still under our travel blacklist," he added.