Najib: New government has withdrawn my bodyguards, aides

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said most of his bodyguards and officers have been withdrawn by the new Pakatan Harapan government.

"In the last few weeks, all the security personnel, police escorts and assistants assigned to me were withdrawn by the new government except for one aide-de-camp," he said in a Facebook post.

Najib said he bade farewell to several of these officers today.

He said they included bodyguards, Special Action Unit personnel, police escorts and other staff who were either assigned to the Prime Minister's Office or to the prime minister's official residence.

Najib also shared photographs of their emotional parting on his Facebook page.

"It cannot be denied that they were filled with emotion and some cried as we bade farewell.

"My family and I will not forget their contributions, friendship and loyalty over these nine years including those who had even served us for 14 years since I was deputy prime minister," he said.

He also urged the new government to look after their interests.

Najib became prime minister in 2009 but led BN to its first defeat since independence at the recent May 9 polls, ending the coalition's 61 years in power.

Mahathir, who was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, came out of retirement in 2016 to lead the opposition Pakatan Harapan to victory against his former party.

Mahathir had during the election campaign vowed to investigate Najib and the 1MDB scandal and had followed through with the promise.

While in the opposition, Mahathir had also complained that the then BN government under Najib had withdrawn or replaced his bodyguards and aides. -Mkini