'No thumb drives in 1981', Mukhriz says on delay in brothers declaring 43 years of assets

PETALING JAYA: It will be hard for the family members of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to gather all the details of assets since 1981 as requested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), says Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (pic).

Mukhriz, who is Dr Mahathir's son and Pejuang president, told Utusan Malaysia that the present-day technology was not available at the time.

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"It is not an easy thing to find all the files since 1981, but they are still trying.

"Even if I were to ask the present government whether they still have files from 10 years ago, the answer would be no.

"Usually, they only keep files for seven years.

"At that time, there were no thumb drives.

"Instead, there was microfiche, and it was unlike now where you can easily do a Google search," he told the Malay daily in a recent interview.

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On Feb 8, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and Mirzan Mahathir were still compiling and collating 43 years' worth of information to declare their assets to MACC.

They also accused the MACC of targeting their father in the probe.

The two of them had been given a 30-day extension to declare their assets in February.

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On March 27, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said he would look into claims by Mahathir’s two older sons that they were not the target of investigations by the graft-buster.

Mukhriz said his two brothers would also adhere to the law although they felt there were some political elements to the probe.

"We believe there are some political elements. But we have laws. When there is legal action, we will respond accordingly," he said.