Remand all Tuns if they don't reveal source of wealth - Dr M

In a not-so-subtly sarcastic statement, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the authorities to remand all “Tun” title holders - of which he is one - if they don’t disclose the source of their wealth.

This comes after the MACC launched investigations into former finance minister Daim Zainuddin - another Tun and close associate of Mahathir - over alleged money laundering and corruption.

“I agree completely that Tuns should be investigated. If they cannot explain where or how they got the money, their property should be seized.

“It is not necessary to obtain documentary evidence of their misdeeds. Suspicions alone should be enough.

“Tuns should not only be investigated. They should also be remanded until they reveal the source of their money. If they don’t, it must be because they are hiding,” he said in a social media posting today.

Last week, the MACC seized Ilham Tower, a high commercial-value building, owned by Daim and his family.

This reportedly came after the former minister refused to comply with requests from the MACC to disclose the financial holdings of both himself and his family.

The seizure is linked to an anti-money laundering investigation that began in late May into a corporate transaction worth RM2.3 billion in November 1997.

The transaction involved publicly listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM).

The anti-graft agency is also reportedly looking into Daim’s businesses and how the corporate figure obtained all his assets.

AG’s discretion

Mahathir in his posting today, snidely said that corruption must be eradicated at all cost - unless the attorney-general believes the accusations were politically motivated.

“If the attorney-general is of the opinion that the accusations are due to politics, it is the right of the AG not to continue prosecution. 

“Passports should be returned. This is the right of the AG. The courts must not question the decision of the AG,” he added.

This is partly in reference to the Attorney-General’s Chambers decision to withdraw corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, with concerns over alleged political persecution being cited as one of the reasons for doing so.

Mahathir also made reference to his former protege, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, being sentenced to whipping for a corruption offence.

“Malaysia truly follows the rule of law. Even a first offender must accept the full force of the rule of law.

“If whipping is mandatory, then the offender must be whipped.

“In Malaysia, the law is supreme. We must all abide by it," he said. - Mkini