Malaysia PM accuses ex PM of political sabotage

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

Prime Minister Najib Razak has blamed Mahathir Mohamad of orchestrating allegations that he pocketed $700 million of public funds, accusing the former premier of being "part of a concerted campaign of political sabotage to topple a democratically elected prime minister."

In a strongly worded statement issued in a Facebook posting Saturday, Razak said that Mohamad and others should be prepared to face legal consequences if they continue to spread "unsupported allegations."

"In recent months, various allegations – all unsubstantiated, and many simply outrageous – have been directed against me and my family," the statement read.

He claimed that the attacks began when he refused to implement Mohamad’s personal demands. 

"I refused, because I do not believe it is right for Malaysia to be ruled by proxy."

Razak claimed that Mohamad then "recklessly" claimed that 42 billion Ringgit ($11.08 billion) was missing from state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad [1MDB] when the debt was in fact audited, backed by 51 billion Ringgit in audited assets.

"The latest allegation is that I have taken state-linked funds for personal gain. I believe Mahathir, working hand in glove with foreign nationals, including the now discredited political attack blog Sarawak Report, is behind this latest lie," he said.

According to a report in a pro-government English daily, leaked documents referred to in a Sarawak website report that claimed $700 million ended up in the prime minister's personal accounts were edited before they appeared online.

Razak took over Malaysia's premiership in 2009, hand-picked by Mohamad after ousting Razak's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Mohamad - who served for 29 years - is Malaysia's longest serving prime minister.

On Friday, international probes into 1MDB claimed that billions of Ringgit from the debt-ridden firm were channelled to personal bank accounts belonging to Razak.

The Wall Street Journal and Sarawak released reports quoting documents they alleged were from an ongoing 1MDB probe that claimed that the $700 million moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB, before ending up in the prime minister's personal accounts in five separate deposits.

Razak said he has not taken funds for personal gain as alleged by political opponents, whether it is from 1MDB, Finance Ministry-owned SRC International or other entities.

"At no point have those making these allegations offered any evidence. All we have heard is that these allegations are based on leaked documents and unnamed investigators. Not once has the source of these documents ever been shown, neither have the documents themselves been provided for verification by lawful authorities," he wrote.

"Those who continue to mount these attacks should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions. These gutter tactics - in some cases criminal tactics - to overthrow the government will fail. Where appropriate, they will be met with the full force of the law."

Razak also said his government would stay focused on nation building for Malaysians, at a period of unique opportunity for the country.

Malaysia is the present chair of the Southeast Asian countries association (ASEAN) and expected to become a developed economy by 2020.