Dr M: I don't have 'billions of dollars' in assets

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today denied that he has "billions of dollars" in assets when told about a challenge to declare them.

Instead, he claimed that he had only received what was due to him.

Mahathir was responding to Pertubuhan Minda Sosial dan Prihatin (PMSP), a pro-Najib NGO led by Ramesh Rao, who claimed to have received reports that the former PM has "extravagant assets" in Argentina, Australia, the UK, the United States, Canada, Langkawi and Subang Jaya.

Ramesh cited findings by deceased author Barry Wain who presented in his book ‘Malaysia Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad In Turbulent Times’ that the former premier had billions in assets.

"I want to tell about this (book) Malaysia Maverick, about the things I'm supposed to have, they don't belong to me. I don't have anything.

"When I retired, they offered me land, but I rejected it. I paid for the land. All the things given to me have been given back to the government. I don't take anything. I only get what is right for me."

He added that during his 22-year tenure as PM, his expenses were covered by the government, giving him a chance to save some money.

“That’s all that I have. Not billions of dollars. I don't have billions of dollars in my private account,” Mahathir told reporters after attending an event at KLCC in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mahathir’s family wealth has been a target of his opponents, accusing his family members of becoming super-rich when Mahathir was in power.

Mokhzani, a son of Mahathir, is a billionaire in the oil industry and was listed as one of Malaysia’s 50 Richest in 2016.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had alleged that RM2.6 billion had been transferred into Najib’s private bank account, but Najib has denied of any wrongdoing.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared Najib in both the RM2.6 billion scandal and the SRC case. -Mkini