The Malaysian Government's Position on Low Taek Jho's Request for a Pardon
Introduction
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated that Malaysia will not officially stop fugitive financier Low Taek Jho from asking the United States president for a pardon.
Main Body
The Malaysian government is currently refusing to interfere in the pardon process. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described the request as a 'non-issue' because there are still ongoing legal proceedings. However, other high-ranking officials disagree with this view. Trade Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, who leads the asset recovery team, argued that the pardon should be rejected and that Low should be returned to Malaysia to face trial. Similarly, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasized that the massive financial damage caused to the country means Low does not deserve such a pardon. To provide context, the 1MDB state investment fund was created in 2009 under former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Between 2009 and 2015, approximately US$4.5 billion was allegedly stolen from the fund. Whistleblowers claim that Low Taek Jho had a huge influence over the fund's finances, even though he held no official position. This stolen money was used to buy luxury homes, expensive art, and to fund movies. Consequently, this corruption led to the fall of the ruling government in 2018 and the imprisonment of Najib Razak, who was fined US$2.8 billion. At the same time, the Royal Malaysian Police have confirmed they are investigating reports that Low held secret meetings in Kuala Lumpur last year. Inspector-General Mohd Khalid Ismail stated that the authorities are following legal procedures and working with other agencies to solve the case.
Conclusion
Although the Prime Minister remains neutral until the court cases are finished, there is still disagreement within the government, and police investigations into Low's recent activities are continuing.
Learning
⚡ The Power of 'Connecting Words' (Cohesive Devices)
An A2 student usually writes simple, short sentences. A B2 student connects ideas to create a 'flow.' Look at how this text moves from one idea to another using specific words:
1. The 'Contrast' Shift Instead of just saying "The PM says X. Other people say Y," the text uses:
- "However..."
- "Similarly..."
- "Although..."
B2 Tip: Use 'However' at the start of a sentence to signal a change in direction. It is much more professional than using 'but' every time.
🛠️ Upgrading Your Vocabulary: From Simple to Precise
To move toward B2, stop using generic words like 'big' or 'bad'. Notice these substitutions in the article:
| A2 Word | B2 Upgrade (from text) | Why it's better |
|---|---|---|
| Big | Massive | Describes scale and impact more strongly. |
| A person who tells secrets | Whistleblower | A specific term for a legal/professional context. |
| Stopped/Blocked | Interfere | Describes the act of getting involved in a process. |
🔍 Linguistic Focus: The 'Passive' Reporting Style
Notice this phrase: "approximately US$4.5 billion was allegedly stolen."
At A2, you might say: "Someone stole the money." At B2, we use the Passive Voice (was stolen) when the action is more important than the person doing it, or when we aren't 100% sure who did it.
The 'Magic' Word: Allegedly In high-level English, we rarely state a crime as a fact before a judge decides. Adding "allegedly" protects the speaker from being wrong. It transforms a simple statement into a professional, journalistic observation.