"Everything, the government can have access. The government can also ask Petronas whether supposedly I had made billions of dollars, you can investigate that. Because I am told that my name was mentioned that I have committed wrongdoings.”
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the media that he is prepared to be investigated. The 98-year-old politician denied abusing his power while he was prime minister.
Speaking at a packed press conference that he called at Putrajaya, Mahathir claimed that he has nothing to hide and challenged the government to conduct an investigation against him if he was indeed involved in corruption.
“So I am prepared, of course, to be investigated. You can look into my accounts in any of the banks.
"Everything, the government can have access. The government can also ask Petronas whether supposedly I had made billions of dollars, you can investigate that. Because I am told that my name was mentioned that I have committed wrongdoings,” said Mahathir, who stepped down as prime minister a second time on Feb 23, 2020, roughly nine months before he was then supposed to pass the baton to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in November 2020.
The press conference came after Mahathir’s son, businessman Mirzan Mahathir, was summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week to assist with an ongoing investigation and was given notice to declare his assets.
NEWS: Dr M asks for proof of purported wrongdoings
Despite the predicament faced by his family, Mahathir said these "selective prosecutions" were not linked to the consolidation of power into the country’s executive branch during his first tenure as prime minister between 1981 and 2003.
Mahathir denied that he is now a victim of his own actions for consolidating power into the country's executive branch during his first tenure as prime minister. He defended his move at the time, but accused Anwar of abusing his wide-ranging power as prime minister.
“I was once a prime minister. But these things didn't happen. But you have a prime minister who abuses power. Then, of course, you have this problem. There is nothing wrong with the system. The system is okay. But the man is not okay.
“[During my time, there was] consolidation, maybe. But abuse, no. There was a case, and it went to court.
“But I didn't give any evidence in the court. I didn't talk to the judge. So it is the personal interest shown by the prime minister. You can't blame the system when the mistake is done by the person abusing the system,” he commented, answering a question by The Edge on the consolidation of power to the prime minister.
Mahathir was referring to the corruption and sodomy case against Anwar in 1998 when Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister and member of Umno.
During Mahathir’s 22-year tenure between 1981 and 2003, he oversaw the repeal of the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 and the sacking of Federal Court Lord President Tun Salleh Abas, when the power of both the judiciary and legislative branches were widely seen as being consolidated to the executive branch.
Mahathir is one of the longest serving prime ministers in Asean. He became prime minister the first time in 1981 and stepped down in 2003. He toppled Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the leader who was handpicked by him, following the scandal in 1Malaysia Development Bhd in 2018, and Mahathir became prime minister for the second time. The second tenure only lasted 22 months.
Anwar has no idea how to run the country
Mahathir has challenged Anwar to hold a general election, claiming that Anwar is a prime minister by default, not because he was elected.
Mahathir said a number of parties which “have lost” in the 15th general election in 2022 had joined together to form the current government. In contrast, the nonagenarian said that during his first tenure as prime minister, he had led his party to win a two-thirds majority in five elections.
“The people had a chance to throw me out. They didn't throw me out. If I had been abusing my position, I wouldn't have won the election. I challenge him (Anwar) to call for a general election today. Whether he dares or not to see what the people will say,” said Mahathir.
“As far as ruling the country is concerned, he (Anwar) has no idea. He has no idea how to tackle the economic problem, how to tackle the political problem, how to tackle the social problem.
“Oh, he wants to fight corruption? If you want to fight corruption, then why that [Datuk Seri] Zahid [Hamidi] was freed? Someone who had 47 charges and a prima facie case against him, they just let him go. Think about it. Is it true that he is fighting corruption?” said Mahathir.