Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad faces four new probes after launching campaign against Najib Razak
Najib is embroiled in a controversy over some US$700 million that was deposited into his personal bank account.
PUBLISHED : Monday, 11 April, 2016, 6:48pm
UPDATED : Monday, 11 April, 2016, 6:48pm
Associated Press
Malaysian police said on Monday they have opened four investigation papers against former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a man who has arguably become the current administration’s fiercest critic.
Mahathir, 90, who ruled from 1981 to 2003, is being probed over alleged sedition, among others offences, the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.
“Some [parts of the probe] are not complete. Some have been forwarded to the attorney general for consideration. There is no decision yet,” he said.
The police chief declined to say if any of the investigations are related to Mahathir’s remarks made during an interview with The Weekend Australian last week, in which he said there was little chance Prime Minister Najib Razak would step down without external pressure.
“Normally I don’t like foreign interference in Malaysian affairs, but our avenues for redress have been closed completely,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“So now we have to allow foreign interference in our domestic affairs. If it is legal, legitimate, yes. If they have information, they should give information. And if there is money laundering, just because it is Najib it doesn’t mean they should suspend the law.”
Members of the ruling party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), had called for action to be taken against Mahathir under the Sedition Act for asking foreigners to interfere in the administration of the country.
The Umno Veterans Club secretary Mustapha Yaakub said Mahathir had gone too far and was desperate in his attempt to overthrow Najib.
“Clearly he has double standards. He did not want foreign interference during his time, but he himself is working to get foreign powers to bring Najib down,” the official news agency Bernama quoted him as saying in a statement Sunday.
Mahathir, who quit Umno in February, has joined forces with the opposition and civil societies to launch “Save Malaysia”, a signature campaign targeting Najib’s ouster.
Mahathir was previously probed for defamation after he accused Najib of paying Umno leaders for their loyalty.
Najib is embroiled in a controversy over some US$700 million that was deposited into his personal bank account allegedly from companies linked to debt-laden state investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), for which Najib chairs the advisory board.
He has denied any wrongdoing and was also cleared by the attorney general in January. The attorney general, Apandi Mohamed Ali, who was handpicked by Najib, said the massive sum was a political donation from the Saudi royal family.
1MDB’s complex web of transactions has attracted investigations from various countries, including Switzerland, Luxembourg, the United States and Hong Kong, into possible corruption and money laundering.
A local bipartisan parliamentary inquiry released a damning report last Thursday confirming mismanagement and questionable payments of billions of dollars to unverifiable parties.
