“If the yacht was obtained under illegal circumstances in the sense that the money was not due to him, then he has to be accountable for that. That is my position,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
He also maintained that matters related to the RM1 billion yacht should be handled according to the rule of law.
“If anyone has done anything wrong, the law should be allowed to take its course. I have already said that no one is above the law.”
When asked to comment on Jho Low’s claim that the yacht had been illegally seized, Najib remained coy, saying only that it was up to him to make such statements.
The Equanimity arrived in Malaysian waters last Tuesday, sparking renewed calls for Jho Low to return to Malaysia and face the authorities.
The yacht, which is being held at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang, is at the centre of a US investigation into 1MDB. It has been linked to businessman Jho Low, and is believed to have been acquired with funds allegedly plundered from the state investment firm.
Indonesian police seized the yacht at the request of the US authorities and handed it over to Malaysia after a recent visit by Mahathir to the country.
Jho Low has insisted that the seizure of the yacht was illegal, adding that Malaysia was “putting words into the mouth” of US authorities by saying that its arrival last week was after negotiations with the Americans.