Dr M: I’m ever ready to go to court

TASEK GELUGOR: Tun Dr Maha­thir Mohamad says he is willing to be investigated in relation to the losses on foreign currency transactions by Bank Negara in the 1990s.

The Parti Pribumi Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said he had yet to be called by anyone on the issue.

“But they are welcome to call me anytime ... I am ever ready to go to court or anywhere,” he told reporters after attending a party event here on Sunday night.

Also present were PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and Amanah vice-president Datuk Husam Musa.

In February, the Cabinet decided to set up a special task force led by former Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to conduct a preliminary investigation into the issue.

Other members of the task force include Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Datuk Azam Baki.

The task force is probing the US$10bil (RM44bil) losses incurred by BNM through forex dealings between 1991 and 1993.

The Prime Minister’s Department had said that the Government’s action proved its commitment to ensure that the investigation was carried out impartially.

Asked about PPBM leaders and members who left the party recently, Dr Mahathir said they were free to leave if they had lost confidence in the leadership and felt that the party did not have any.

Last week, PPBM secretary Kamarul Azman Habibur Rahman, who is also the chairman of the Coalition of Branch Chiefs Malaysia, quit the party along with other 821 members nationwide.

Kamarul Azman, who was among the seven founder members of PPBM, had said that he made the decision as he felt PPBM had no plans to champion the people’s interest. Rather, he said PPBM’s only agenda was to topple Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. — Bernama