[UPDATED] ‘I help capable people, not cronies’, Dr Mahathir tells Najib

KUALA LUMPUR – Following accusations that he had pressured Datuk Seri Najib Razak into supporting his cronies’ projects, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed the allegations, saying backing is given to those with capability.

The former prime minister also rubbished claims that he was practising nepotism during his time in federal power.

Dr Mahathir explained that when he was leading the government, support and grants were only given to individuals with potential and with good track record.

“If I have cronies, I can take care of them myself, but I don’t. What I have are capable people. I don’t help incapable people.

“For instance, if the government had RM1 million, and we give it to incapable people, the money will go missing. That is why when we want to help, we want to know whether they can manage it.

“If they show capability, we will help them to succeed,” he said in his first press conference after being discharged from hospital earlier this month.

The Pejuang chairman was responding to previous claims by Najib that the former had conspired with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2014 to topple him (Najib) after he refused to give in to pressure to support Dr Mahathir’s cronies’ projects. 

In a separate Facebook post, Najib claimed the conspiracy to bring him down started when Mahathir’s son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir lost in the Umno election in 2013, and later exacerbated with his refusal to help his (Dr Mahathir’s) cronies.

Dr Mahathir also dismissed allegations that he had enriched his family in his time in power, saying how he prohibited his children from joining politics or getting involved in business while he was the prime minister.

Instead, he challenged Najib to provide evidence to back his claims that his children had benefited from his stint as prime minister.

“I didn’t allow any of my children to join politics. When they wanted to do business, even then I forbade them, until I quit as prime minister.

“Najib is claiming my children are billionaires. I want to see documentary proof that they received billions of ringgit.”

Describing the claims by Najib as false accusations, Dr Mahathir said this is nothing alien to the Pekan MP, whom he alleged is accustomed to lying.

Rule of law applies to all

Asked to respond to allegations that former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas had abused his power in the drug case involving tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s son, Dr Mahathir said no one is above the law.

According to him, regardless of whether the person being accused of a crime is someone in a position of power, the rule of law applies to all.

“In the eyes of the law, everyone’s the same. If there is a case, an investigation will be conducted, and if the person is guilty, action will be taken. That is also the stand taken by Pejuang. We stand by the rule of law.”

Thomas, who was appointed the AG during Dr Mahathir’s second stint as prime minister, was accused by online whistleblower Edisi Siasat of letting off Tan’s son after the latter was arrested under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

The group had claimed that Thomas had classified the case as no further action, although the AG later clarified that he had merely reduced the charges after reviewing written representations and legal provisions.

Tan has been alleged and painted by many quarters to be one of Dr Mahathir’s cronies. – The Vibes, February 23, 2022