Najib shocked? I'm shocked at his reaction, says Dr M

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic, centre) says he is shocked at Datuk Seri Najib Razak's reaction after the former premier was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence for seven charges in the SRC International trial.

"I am shocked that he is shocked. We follow the rule of law. He has a case to answer and the case took months. That is how we run the government. Not like them (Barisan Nasional), arresting Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang for no reason," said Dr Mahathir.

In 2017, Khairuddin and Chang were arrested over their reports on 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Dr Mahathir added that Najib had a good hearing and was allowed to go on bail and help the campaigning in various by-elections.

"We will get all this nonsense from him because we are being lenient, following the rule of law," said Dr Mahathir after a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leadership meeting at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here on Monday (Nov 11).

On allegations that he has interfered with court matters, Dr Mahathir said the person making the claims should provide proof.

Earlier, Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that his client was shocked with the High Court's decision to enter his defence in the SRC trial.

Shafie said his client was expecting to be acquitted on all seven charges.

If convicted, Najib, 66, could face hefty fines and jail terms ranging from 15 to 20 years on each charge.