Inspector‑General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador has directed staff at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to keep a close eye on incoming passengers for any sign of Jho Low, the businessman wanted in connection with the 1MDB scandal. Intelligence reports last placed Low in Wuhan, China, a city that entered a strict lockdown in January 2020 as the coronavirus outbreak spread worldwide.
The Malaysian police have not confirmed whether Low left Wuhan before the city’s borders were sealed. If he remained inside the lockdown zone, he would be subject to the same public‑health restrictions as other residents. If he managed to depart, he could be attempting to reach Malaysia or another destination, prompting the airport alert.
Bador’s remarks to the media included a darkly humorous comment that Low might return to Malaysia carrying COVID‑19, suggesting that the authorities would provide “the best treatment.” The joke underscored the frustration of a police chief who has pursued Low for nearly five years.
Low’s evasion began in 2015, when the 1MDB affair emerged. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of diverting RM2.67 billion (approximately US$700 million) from the state‑run development fund into personal accounts. The misappropriated money was allegedly funneled through shell companies to finance luxury real estate, art acquisitions, and film projects in Hollywood. The U.S. Department of Justice imposed sanctions, and investigations spanned multiple continents, yet Low has avoided arrest.
Earlier statements from Malaysian authorities indicated that Low was believed to be in a jurisdiction with an extradition treaty and that he would be returned before the end of 2019. That deadline passed without his capture.
The pandemic adds a new layer of complexity to the manhunt. Global travel restrictions, reduced diplomatic staffing, and the diversion of police resources to enforce curfews and quarantine measures have slowed extradition processes and limited intelligence sharing. For a fugitive with extensive financial resources and international contacts, the chaos created by the health crisis could provide cover.
Bador’s directive to KLIA staff is essentially a “net cast in the dark.” Airport officials have been instructed to scrutinise arrivals closely, looking for a man who has previously slipped through larger investigative nets. The order reflects the belief that Low might consider returning to Malaysia because the situation in China has become unsafe, or that he could exploit the confusion to disappear elsewhere.
The 1MDB scandal itself involved billions of dollars siphoned from a fund intended to boost Malaysia’s economy. The fallout led to Najib Razak’s removal from office, damaged the country’s international standing, and triggered ongoing asset‑recovery efforts. Low remains the only central figure who has not faced trial.
Chinese authorities have not confirmed Low’s presence in Wuhan; the information comes solely from Malaysian intelligence, leaving the trail thin. With air travel limited, embassies operating with reduced staff, and police forces stretched thin, the KLIA alert may be the most practical step Malaysia can take at this stage.
The search continues, and the outcome remains uncertain. Whether Low is still in Wuhan, confronting the same virus as other residents, or has managed to leave the city, the police remain on alert. The airport order stays in effect, awaiting any indication that the fugitive might attempt to board a flight to Malaysia or elsewhere.
