“The story seems to be just unfolding. Apologise for what? For stating the facts?”, the former Wanita Umno chief said in a text message to FMT.
In an interview with a Singapore newspaper, Arul Kanda had said critics, including Rafidah, should have apologised for making “malicious statements” about the seizure of Equanimity by Indonesian police in cooperation with the US authorities. A judge later ordered the yacht to be released, saying the owner had not been convicted of any crime and the police had acted illegally.
US officials have alleged that the yacht was bought by Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, with funds siphoned off from government investment company 1MDB.
Rafidah said her comments were about why Malaysian authorities had not traced Equanimity and seized it, especially when there were reports that it had entered Malaysian waters. However, government ministers have stated that there was no case against Equanimity in Malaysia.
In response to Arul Kanda, Rafidah said: “Stop talking nonsense. The Indonesians could do it. Arul should try to explain truthfully, the 1MDB mess to the rakyat, who simply cannot accept, whatever he has blabbered on so far. I believe a lot of apologies are due to the rakyat.”
The yacht is among assets linked to Low which US authorities intend to seize. Other assets include a private jet, a hotel and real estate in New York, allegedly bought with some US$4.5 billion stolen from 1MDB through fraud and money laundering.
Report: Jho Low living it up between Shanghai hotel and super yacht