Apandi: I don't fear Mahathir, and have nothing to hide

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has dismissed former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's accusation of concealing evidence of wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal.

“Whatever I do as the AG are all based on available facts as contained in the investigation papers.

“There is nothing to hide,” he told Malaysiakini in a text message this morning.

Yesterday, Mahathir said if Pakatan Harapan forms the government after the next general election, it would summon Apandi over the allegation that he used the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to hide evidence.

However, Apandi was unfazed by Mahathir's remarks, saying that he does not fear the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson.

“I do not fear anyone, including Mahathir. I don't fear human beings, but I fear Allah,” he said.

In January last year, Apandi had exonerated Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the RM2.6 billion donation and SRC International issues.

He also dismissed claims by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that 1MDB funds had been misappropriated.

While Apandi said the RM2.6 billion donation Najib received in his personal accounts came from a member of the Saudi royal family, the DOJ, however, had disputed this.

The DOJ, in its civil forfeiture lawsuits involving 1MDB, claimed that the donation had instead originated from 1MDB.

Najib has consistently denied misusing public funds for personal gain and said that such claims were attempts to topple the government.

The prime minister has accused Mahathir of spearheading the campaign to remove him.

Apandi was appointed as AG in July, 2015, to replace Abdul Gani Patail.

Though it was stated that the latter had been replaced due to health reasons, detractors, however, claimed the move was aimed at shutting down the special task force headed by Gani on 1MDB.

The government has denied that there was a cover-up regarding 1MDB.- Mkini