Dr M: Najib ruined country’s image with 1MDB

Those who lodge police reports on wrongdoing are being investigated, detained, dragged to court and accused and/or charged with sabotaging the economy and the like.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad conceded that the kampung folks, not having access to news or perhaps the newspapers that reach them black out such news, may not be up to speed on wrongdoing in Putrajaya. “That doesn’t mean that this can be used to halal wrongdoing in government.”

Mahathir cannot figure out how a government company like 1MDB, with only a RM1 million grant from the Ministry of Finance, could go on to accumulate RM42 billion in debts. “The interest rates on these loans are very high while firms like Goldman Sachs get 10 per cent commission for helping secure such loans. These loans are too huge a burden for the government to shoulder.”

The result of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s incompetence and lack of leadership skills can be seen in the state of the economy, he said. “The ringgit is down, prices are up, tolls are up, there’s GST wracking havoc on the consumer economy, and there’s joblessness including among graduates.”

The country had a good image before Najib took office, he added. “In no other country in the world, are people who lodge police reports on wrongdoing, investigated by the police, detained, dragged to court and accused and/or charged with sabotaging the economy and the like.”

Again, said Mahathir, in no other country in the world are people accused of sabotaging democracy and/or overthrowing the government when they lodge police reports on wrongdoing. “Even lawyers who come to the aid of those who lodge police reports on wrongdoing are investigated by the police and detained.”

The Wall Street Journal, recalled the former Prime Minister, reported about Najib’s ties with Jho Low, his lifestyle, the purchase of luxury homes abroad, and the financing of the film “The Wolf of Wall Street”, all long before he mentioned 1MDB. “Najib should sue all those newspapers making the allegations and expose them as not true.”

However, said Mahathir, he doesn’t do that and instead continues to make empty threats against them. “It gets worse. Then, there were all those reports on so-called 1MDB investments and finally the report on RM2.6 billion being deposited in Najib’s personal accounts before the last General Election in 2013. It seems that Bank Negara knows. Where’s the proof that Bank Negara knew? Even Bank Negara’s recommendations on prosecution were rejected by the Attorney-General.”

“When I headed the government, Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN) had good results in general elections, far better than what Najib has obtained, and with very little money.”

Mahathir pointed out that there was no basis for comparison between him and Najib. “Have I ever done all these things on which he stands accused?

“If so, prove it. Don’t just slander.”

The former Prime Minister disclosed that Najib came to see him and asked him whether he wanted anything. “I said that I don’t want anything for myself. But I would like to see certain things done, not for myself, but for the people and the country.”

Later, said Mahathir, he realised that Najib wanted to trap him to ensure that he doesn’t raise the 1MDB issue. “I didn’t ask anything for myself. Now, he’s claiming that I asked things for myself. He claims that I am sore because I didn’t get them.”

“I don’t want anything. Why should I want anything at this age?”

There’s no end to the wrongdoing of the Najib Administration, charged Mahathir. “1MDB obtained land from the government very cheap and tried to unload such purchases on GLC’s at very high prices, and some aging power plants were bought at prices far above their actual worth.”