Private jet will be flown here once it is fit to fly, says Dr Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA: Fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho’s private jet will be brought to Malaysia only when it is fit to fly, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday.

He said the private jet had not been flown for a while and it had to undergo maintenance before it could be flown here..

“We will bring it here as soon as it can be flown.

“It has been on the ground for a while.

“So, it must be serviced and checked.

“Once that is done, it will be flown here,” he said after the cabinet meeting on anti-corruption.

The government was reported to be making arrangements with Singaporean authorities to recover the private jet in the republic owned by Low, better known as Jho Low.

Dr Mahathir was also quoted as saying that he believed the private jet was likely to have been bought using 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) money.

It was reported last year that Singapore had seized a US$35 million private jet belonging to Jho low.

The Bombardier Global 5000 jet was impounded by authorities and grounded at Singapore’s Seletar Airport.

The aircraft is believed to be part of some US$1 billion in assets allegedly acquired with funds siphoned off from 1MDB that the US government was moving to seize.