Dr M: I was not responsible for BMF's ‘missing billions’

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) brushed aside allegations that he was responsible for the ‘missing billions’ in the Bumiputra Malaysia Finance Limited (BMF) scandal when he was prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said the money that went missing ‘belonged to the bank’ and not the country, and therefore he should not be blamed for it.

“I did not steal any money. No money went missing, what went missing was money belonging to the bank.

“I am not a bank manager, nor am I a bank advisor.

“So many banks lost money during that time. Why should I be blamed for them?” said Dr Mahathir to reporters after speaking at the 19th Perdana Discourse Series at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.

He was asked to respond to allegations made by former Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim in the column of an English daily here recently.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory board chairman said Dr Mahathir had made some “outrageously questionable ventures” during his time as prime minister.