Mahathir: Declare your support for 1MDB and RM42bil debts

PETALING JAYA: Those supporting the Prime Minister should also declare their support for the controversial 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s supporters should also support Low Teik Jho – also known as Jho Low – who purportedly managed 1MDB’s investments.

“As a result of the exposure regarding the Altantuya case and 1MDB, Najib is now getting pledges of support from Umno division heads, Barisan Nasional, MIC, senators and all kinds of groups. This is what the mainstream press reports.

“I am not asking anybody to support me.

“But I am going to ask all those who support Najib to declare that they all support his 1MDB, 1MDB borrowing RM42bil and his inability to answer where the money is,” he said on his chedet.cc blog yesterday.

Dr Mahathir also asked Najib’s supporters if they supported keeping billions of ringgit in the Cayman Island and the explanation that the money could not be brought back to Malaysia because Bank Negara would ask “too many questions”.

“Do you support the purchase of government land in KL at a far below market price, re-valuing it to make it your asset while buying power plants from the private sector at well above market price?” he wrote.

Dr Mahathir said he had asked Najib simple questions, but instead of answering them, he claimed that the Prime Minister had asked people to support him.

“I would like to ask the supporters whether their support means that the disappearance of RM42bil is okay, that there is no necessity to at least explain where the money is.

“If you do, go tell (Tun) Daim (Zainuddin), Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah), (Tan Sri) Shahrir Samad and Khairy Jamaluddin to shut up,” he said.

1MDB, set up by the Govern­ment in 2009 to drive strategic investments, has come under heavy criticism for accumulating debts.