KUALA  LUMPUR (Mar 16): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says that businessman Low Taek Jho has never worked for 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“Low Taek Jho never worked for 1MDB. All the decisions and business dealings of 1MDB were undertaken by its management and the board of directors,” said Najib in a written reply to MP Wangsa Maju Tan Kee Kwong last Thursday that was obtained in parliament today.

Tan had asked Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, to state whether there was any business dealings or relationship between 1MDB and the flamboyant entrepreneur, better known as Jho Low.

To recap, the Penang-born businessman, who is the chief executive officer of Hong Kong investment advisory firm Jynwel Capital, had claimed in a recent interview that he was being made a political scapegoat in the highly-publicised 1MDB controversy due to his longtime friendship with Najib's stepson, Riza Aziz.

1MDB, which is reported to have accumulated debts to the tune of RM42 billion, is fully owned by the Finance Ministry. Najib is also chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers.