Dr M: Najib thinks people are stupid, Kit Siang: Najib not stupid

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang have dismissed former premier Najib Abdul Razak's claim that he was in the dark about the transactions related to 1MDB.

Describing this as impossible, Mahathir pointed out that Najib's signature was on the related documents.

“Who wants to believe him that he didn't know, when he signed (his name)? Every bit of money that goes in and out of the first borrowing of RM42 billion, all his signature.

“If he doesn't know, it must be that he doesn't understand what a signature means,” he said.

Mahathir told Malay Mail that it is ridiculous for someone to direct RM2 billion to be transferred into his account, but at the same time refuse to be informed of the transaction.

“This cannot be. Because I have to sign to use the money. To use the money, I have to issue cheques.

“Najib always assumes that people are stupid,” he added.

Mahathir was referring to the US$681 million, popularly referred to as RM2.6 billion, which flowed into Najib's personal bank account.

The former premier, who has denied any wrongdoing, claimed that the sum was a donation from a Saudi royalty but the US Department of Justice (DOJ) suggested that the money was from 1MDB.

In an interview with Reuters, Najib blamed his advisers and the 1MDB board for not disclosing the alleged embezzlement to him.

Najib claimed he was unaware that the money in his personal account was from 1MDB, and if it was used to purchase assets such as yachts, paintings, jewellery and properties.

However, Mahathir, who claimed there are documents which showed otherwise, said: “We have all those. We know how much money goes into his account.”

Crossing the Rubicon – from alleged perpetrator to victim

Meanwhile, Lim claimed that instead of clearing his name, Najib had impaled himself with his latest remarks.

If his claim of being kept in the dark is true, the DAP leader said this would mean the former premier was the most incompetent head of government in the world.

“I do not believe that Najib is so stupid, incompetent or ignorant, which only means he was lying through his teeth in his interview with Reuters,” he said in a statement.

Lim said Najib's advisers, the management and board of 1MDB could not have kept the alleged embezzlement of funds a secret from him for the simple reason that the facts and figures were laid bare in the DOJ suits.

“Far from an ignoramus who was being led to the slaughterhouse by his evil advisers, management and board of 1MDB, Najib was slaughtering everyone who dared to stand in his way,” he added.

Lim also noted that Najib, whether consciously or unconsciously, had crossed the Rubicon in the Reuters interview, going from denying the existence of a scandal to blaming his subordinates.

“It is clear that Najib is afraid of a court-room expose of the 1MDB scandal – the same reason why Najib dared not follow up on his threat in July 2015 to sue the Wall Street Journal for the report on the RM2.6 billion donation in his personal banking account.

“Is Najib paving the way for a strategic change of position – that the 1MDB scandal existed but he is not culpable or responsible for it as the fault lay elsewhere?” he asked. -Mkini