This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 5, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: The passport of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, was cancelled on June 15, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said in a Bernama report.

The cancellation was made at the request of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull as part of its investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“His passport has been cancelled, so any action will be taken overseas because he no longer has a Malaysian passport. If he wants to travel, action will be taken on him by the authorities there,” Mustafar said in the report yesterday.

On Tuesday, Mohd Shukri said Low, who is the central figure wanted in investigations into 1MDB, needs to return to the country to assist in the 1MDB Special Task Force’s probe.

“Not only [is] the MACC [looking for him], but other authorities in Singapore and the US are also looking for him as well. If reporters have any information, please forward to us,” he added.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the MACC had issued a warrant for Jho Low and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, a former director of SRC International Sdn Bhd, which was previously a unit of 1MDB.

Low, who was then said to be in Dubai, had offered to meet the 1MDB task force in the Gulf city.

However, Mohd Shukri on Tuesday shot down Low’s request, saying: “He’s Malaysian. Come back to Malaysia”.

Low’s whereabouts have not been established. Nanyang Siang Pau reported in May that he could be hiding in Taiwan. Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had earlier said Putrajaya “roughly knows” where to find Low.