(September 19): The current federal government needs to be criticised if its policies do not benefit the country, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Dr Mahathir said it was expected of an elected government to make changes in its policies and laws to show its contributions to the country but it should not be above criticism if it did something that did not benefit the nation.

"After I stepped down, policies changed and laws changed, that is expected. They want to show their own contribution to the country. But when they do something that is not contributing to the country, someone needs to tell them," he said in his opening address at the 6th Malaysian Construction Summit 2014 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Dr Mahathir also said he could make nasty comments but said this always led to quite good results.

"When necessary I will become nasty. That’s my reputation."