Dr M to be questioned by cops for his 'Bugis pirate' remark

The police will call up Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to record his statement that is alleged to have insulted the Bugis community, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said.

The police, Fuzi added, needed some time to complete the investigation into the matter. However, he expressed hope that it could be resolved as soon as possible.

“This depends on the requirement of the investigating officer, but we are certain he (Mahathir) will be called. We will resolve it as soon as possible,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying in Butterworth yesterday.

Mahathir had courted the wrath of both Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar with his “Bugis pirate” remark.

He later claimed that his remark was aimed at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is of Bugis descent, and not the entire community.

However, Sultan Sharafuddin said Mahathir had tried to incite Malaysians to hate and insult the ethnic Bugis race, which forms the hierarchy of the Selangor Sultanate.

Asked on the development of investigations into the foreign exchange (forex) business losses sustained by Bank Negara Malaysia in the 1990s involving Mahathir, Fuzi said a special team was carrying out the investigation on this case.

"The investigation is ongoing, it is not easy. So many people will be called to complete the investigation.

“After a police report was lodged, we formed a task force. The task force is working round-the-clock now to get whatever statements, and whatever needs to be done has to be done as soon as possible. This is an on-going matter," Fuzi added.

Mahathir is expected to have his statement recorded by police on the matter today.- Mkini