Mahathir on his rich kids and ‘church mouse’ relatives

KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at critics who question his children’s wealth, saying their success is due to their own hard work and nothing to do with him helming the government for two decades.

“If they are rich now it is through their own efforts,” Mahathir told reporters after attending a meeting with top Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders at the Parliament building today.

“They are entitled to be rich, that is if they can become rich. But some of my relatives are as poor as a church mouse,” he said.

The business interests of Mahathir’s sons have frequently come under scrutiny. Last year, Umno leaders called for a probe into their wealth.

Umno Supreme Council member Mohamed Nazri Aziz had said that should also be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to assets owned by Mahathir and his family.

Mahathir, who headed the government from 1981 to 2003, today said he was powerless to stop his children from doing business.

“Were they rich when I was the prime minister? There was no rumour back then about their wealth,” he said. -FMT