Don't use reverse psychology on me, AG tells Mahathir

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali has dismissed Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that he will ignore the findings on the RM2.6 billion and SRC International's RM42 million transferred into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank accounts.

Vowing to act without fear or favour on these cases, he urged the former prime minister not to employ reverse psychology on him.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Apandi said he would act fairly and thoroughly.

"I will study (the cases) according to the law," he said.

"You ask him, how did he come to that opinion?" he retorted when quizzed on Mahathir's statement.

The former premier had predicted that Apandi would disregard the MACC's investigation papers on the cases.

Mahathir (photo) had based his assumption on the AG previously ignoring Bank Negara Malaysia's report on 1MDB which recommended for action to be taken.

Meanwhile, Apandi, who has denied speculation that he was appointed to protect Najib from legal ramifications, accused Mahathir of attempting to put him under pressure.

"He just tries to put pressure on me. I don't work under pressure. Just like any judge, we don't work under pressure.

“He was merely trying to use reverse psychology on me," he said, adding that the former premier should cease resorting to such tactics.

"I am a law man. Tell the whole world that I am a law man. I decide according to the law. Nobody puts pressure on me," he stressed.

Najib denied any wrongdoing

Apandi had been appointed AG after his predecessor Abdul Gani Patail was suddenly dropped from the post due to health reasons last year.

The move ignited speculation that Gani was on the verge of hauling the prime minister to court, which the authorities denied.

Najib had also replaced his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin and another minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, who were critical of 1MDB.

Mahathir has been on a campaign to force Najib to step down, accusing the prime minister, who was once his protege, of numerous misdeeds.

The former premier has also dismissed the argument that the RM2.6 billion transferred ahead of the last general election in 2013 was a donation from a Middle Eastern source, whose identity continues to remain a mystery.

Meanwhile, the Finance Miniistry-owned and former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International funds, which observers claim is the more damaging revelation, was transferred in 2014 and last year.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing and accused Mahathir of being part of a plot to topple him.

On Dec 31, MACC announced it had submitted three investigation papers to the AG, two related to the probe on SRC International and another on the RM2.6 billion. -Mkini