REFUTING claims that it was difficult to investigate those with a Tun title, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was more difficult to investigate those in power.
This, he said, applied especially to the prime minister, senior minister and the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The former prime minister said it was easier to investigate him (Dr Mahathir) as “the government has the power” to do so.
Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that it was difficult to investigate high-profile individuals.
He said that it is not easy to pursue investigations against tycoons accused of stealing taxpayers’ money but it is still something that needs to be done.
He said it was “odd” that the government was being reprimanded for taking action against such individuals.
“We will go after the crooks, I don’t care... When we want to take action (against these individuals), the people get angry, saying that this prime minister is too harsh. For me, this is strange; you should support it (investigations). It’s not easy, you know, to investigate a Tun,” he had said.
Last week, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) told Dr Mahathir’s son, Mirzan, to declare all movable and immovable assets that are in his possession either inside or outside the country.
The MACC said the declaration must be done within thirty days following a notice about the order served to him by the agency under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009 on January 17.
Following that, Dr Mahathir expressed his frustration with the justice system, claiming political persecution against him and his family.
Dr Mahathir had claimed that his son was accused and threatened that if he did anything that the prosecutor considered to be contrary to the accusation, he would be jailed for five years.
Current government abusing the law
At the press conference today, Dr Mahathir claimed that the current government under Anwar was abusing the law for political gain.
He said those who opposed the government would have the law thrown at their faces, while those who were in support would have their charges dropped.
“This was despite the court already establishing a prima facie case,” he said.
The former prime minister challenged Anwar to call for an election to test his support among Malaysians.
He claimed that Anwar was using MACC to investigate his political foes and using the judiciary to set his allies free.
“I had never resorted to such measures when I was the prime minister. These things never happened ... I won every election with a two-thirds majority. Five elections, all two-thirds majority,” he said.
I am ready to be investigated
Dr Mahathir said in the event there were any accusations against him, he was prepared to be investigated.
He said all his bank accounts, Inland Revenue Board statements and others are readily available for access by enforcement agencies.
He asked why there were no investigations over a statutory declaration made by Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid in 1999.
“Why is he not investigated? This is a statutory declaration,” Mahathir said about claims by Murad that Anwar had RM3 billion in over 20 bank accounts.
Murad resigned as Bank Negara assistant governor on February 1, 1999. – The Vibes, January 22, 2024
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