Raid on Najib’s house: I want people treated decently, says Dr M

The prime minister says he is 'not going to torture people or things like that'.

The police have their standard operating procedures, says Dr Mahathir.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said he wanted “people to be treated decently” when commenting on the late-night raid at the private residence of ousted leader Najib Razak.

“The police have their standard operating procedures. I didn’t know that they would raid at night.

“But my instruction is very clear. I’m not going to torture people or things like that. I want people to be treated decently,” he said at a press conference after chairing a meeting of the Pakatan Harapan presidential council here

Mahathir was responding to questions on why the police had raided Najib’s house at night.

Bukit Aman Commercial CID director Amar Singh earlier confirmed that police had searched the private residence of Najib on Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, here last night.

Bernama reporters saw 16 police vehicles, including a truck, arriving at the house at 10.15pm.

The police also searched another of Najib’s residences, a luxury apartment on Jalan Raja Chulan in Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir said the police might have reasons for their action but he had not been informed about them.

When asked whether Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, was also being investigated as it was reported that police had seized handbags in the raid, Mahathir said the authorities conducted investigations regardless of who the individuals were.

“If there is a case, we will take action. It is up to those conducting the investigation.

“The investigations involve several government agencies or ministries, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police, National Audit Department and other bodies which have information,” he added.

Najib and Rosmah have been blacklisted by the Immigration Department and cannot leave the country.

Last Tuesday, Mahathir said he expected charges to be filed against Najib following investigations into allegations against the former prime minister over the removal of hundreds of millions of US dollars from the 1MDB fund.

The Pakatan Harapan coalition, led by Mahathir, defeated Najib’s Barisan Nasional in last week’s general election. -FMT