Rais Yatim: I don't want to embarrass Mahathir

Former minister Rais Yatim said he does not want to delve into former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's past records so as not to embarrass him.

Similarly, Rais said Mahathir should not be overly critical in his bid to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I do not want to open his record because I don't want to embarrass him. In Islam, embarrassing a brother is akin to embarrassing ourselves.

"When I was a minister under him (Mahathir), there were many things that happened but we too did not slam him," Rais told journalists at a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was responding to Mahathir who yesterday led his allies and former foes to sign a Citizens' Declaration which called for Najib's ouster.

Rais, who was appointed by Najib as socio-cultural adviser to the government, which carries a similar status as a minister, said there are legal conventions if Mahathir wanted to remove the prime minister.

"The government still has two more years to do its work (before the next general election).

"He (Najib) should be given a chance instead of facing demands to step down, that is undemocratic," he said.

Mahathir, who has accused Najib of corruption, is spearheading a movement to oust him.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had investigated deposits of RM42 million from state-owned SRC International and RM2.6 billion from an offshore account into Najib's personal bank accounts.

Najib had denied wrongdoing while the attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali had also cleared Najib of any offences.

However, the MACC is appealing Apandi's decision not to prosecute. -Mkini