Yes, we respect him, but let’s not forget his dark side, says Najib

The prime minister says Mahathir's attacks on his government were nothing but personal.

VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Razak said Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attacks against him and his administration were nothing but personal, in a video admitting the former leader’s high standing among Malaysians.

But he urged voters not to be blinded by Mahathir’s “past wrongs”, turning the tables on his opponents over charges of corruption and cronyism, and the frequently used allegations of embezzlement and theft.

Najib questioned Mahathir’s past and present allies involved in the opposition’s charge against Barisan Nasional (BN), saying they include a list of personalities mired in scandals and allegations of corruption.

“It’s an open secret that Mahathir’s political funding comes through public projects awarded to his cronies. They were then given government loans to finance the projects, with part of the money going to his political coffers.

“When these cronies passed on, got involved in divorce settlements or were declared bankrupt, billions of dollars would be lost. Is this not called theft,” he asked as clips of Daim Zainuddin and Kadir Jasin are played out.

Daim, who served as finance minister under Mahathir, has been crisscrossing the nation to speak at Pakatan Harapan (PH) events, in a show of solidarity with his former boss. Kadir is the former New Straits Times Press group chief editor who has turned into a strong critic of Najib.

Najib also made references to the Ijok land deal controversy in Selangor, the Penang tunnel road project, as well as the corruption charge against DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

“In the end, his attacks against me are nothing but personal,” said Najib.