MAHATHIR ACCUSES POLICE OF HARASSMENT

After being interviewed four times, “I am sure there will be another police questioning after this is published,” he says in a blog posting today.

(FMT) – Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused the police of harassment after being interviewed by police four times so far with another scheduled for after Hari Raya.

“I am sure there will be another police questioning after this is published,” he claimed in a blog posting today.

Pointing out that the role of the police was to protect citizens from criminals, Dr Mahathir accused the police of “being used to harass and pressure us” and asked: “Is this right or is this wrong.”

For more than a year Dr Mahathir has led a campaign to force Najib Razak to step down as Umno president and prime minister.

Police said this week that there were eight investigations being carried out following reports lodged against Dr Mahathir for various statements he had made, among them an allegation that the Malay Rulers had been confined to “house arrest” and recently for making a comparison of Najib to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, whose 1970s regime was noted for its cruelty.

The Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, said on Wednesday that Dr Mahathir was being investigated for criminal defamation.

Dr Mahathir has initiated a Citizens Declaration seeking to petition the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for Najib’s dismissal, but the former premier has complained that he had not been able to obtain an appointment with the King.