Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not pulled the plug on his campaign to remove Najib Abdul Razak as the prime minister of the country, despite the latter appearing to have consolidated his position.
"I have not given up because I feel this (objective) is an important thing in our country.
"Najib's administration has caused the country's decline in economy, politics, science, technology and knowledge. All areas are declining," he told a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.
The decline, Mahathir claimed, was due to Najib's (photo) determination to maintain his popularity in order to remain as prime minister.
"For popularity's sake, money was used.
"He (Najib) admitted that the RM2.6 billion (donation) was used for (BN's) victory," the former prime minister said.
Mahathir was directly asked whether he had given up on his quest to seek Najib's removal from office, following a perceived slow down of his harsh criticisms that started since early last year.
Previously, he had received a courtesy visit from Malaysian astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor and Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipoz.
Muszaphar had presented Mahathir with the spacesuit that he wore when he was launched into space aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-11 in 2007.
In a blog posting to commemorate 40 years since the passing of Najib's father, Abdul Razak Hussien, Mahathir had said he owed everything to the country's second prime minister.
He recalled that Razak was the man who had allowed his return into Umno, after he was expelled in 1969, and subsequently appointed him as a full minister.
Mahathir, however, stressed that his fond memories of Razak has nothing to do with his views on Najib.
"My views on Tun Razak has not changed. He was my mentor. He was the one who helped me reached success.
"It (his blog post) has absolutely nothing to do with Najib," Mahathir said when asked on a perception that he is now less critical of Najib.
Last week, Mahathir had also expressed rare support for Najib's move to recalibrate Budget 2016.
On Monday, however, he pointed out that the recalibration may need to be recalibrated further, taking into account current global oil prices. -Mkini
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