Interpol has its own protocol in deciding whether to make the names on its wanted list public, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said today. 

Fuzi was responding to an article published on Utusan Online, which found that the fugitive financier Low Taek Jho and his father Hock Peng were not on Interpol's Red Notice list.

The portal reported yesterday that the names of several Malaysians – including former police officer Sirul Azhar Umar, white collar criminal Michael Soosai and car theft syndicate mastermind Robin Hai – were still on the list, but not that of Taek Jho and his father. 

However, the IGP said that Interpol has the discretion to decide whether to only release these names to relevant authorities.

"A request to have any individual listed on the Red Notice list depends on the Interpol's protocol, which takes time as it has to undergo a thorough process which has been outlined by the international agency.

"Based on the same protocol, Interpol will decide whether the names on the list will be published to the public or only made known to related authorities," read his statement.

Fuzi added that he hoped for no more confusion or misperceptions related to the action police are taking towards Taek Jho and his father.

Last month, the Putrajaya Sessions Court issued an arrest warrant against Taek Jho and Hock Peng to enable both to be repatriated and face money-laundering charges in relation to 1MDB.

Fuzi said at the time that this warrant would enable the police to Interpol's help to issue Red Notices for both men.

The warrant was obtained after charges were filed at the Putrajaya Sessions Court in accordance with Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.