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Stop thinking Malaysians are stupid, Dr M tells Najib

KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Najib Razak should stop thinking Malaysians are stupid enough to believe that the RM2.6 billion (S$950 million) he received in his private accounts was a donation, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Najib Razak should stop thinking Malaysians are stupid enough to believe that the RM2.6 billion (S$950 million) he received in his private accounts was a donation, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday.

In his latest salvo aimed against Mr Najib, the former prime minister said no one buys the excuse that the sum of money was a “personal gift” to Mr Najib to win elections, and ridiculed the explanations given by ruling party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) so far.

“The public has a right to know because the public does not believe that the RM2.6 billion was a gift personally to the PM of Malaysia for him to win elections,” Dr Mahathir said in his latest blog post yesterday.

“Malaysians would not like to believe their candidate for the highest office in the country is a nominee of some person from another country. What will be his obligation to his supporters. Will he serve Malaysians or some foreign country?”

“Stop thinking that Malaysians are stupid,” he added.

Mr Najib is facing intense political pressure after a Wall Street Journal report last month alleged that up to US$700 million was deposited from companies linked to state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) into his personal accounts.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed this month the money was a donation and not from 1MDB, which is facing multiple probes over alleged financial irregularities and for racking up a RM42 billion debtpile.

UMNO division leader Ridhuan Abdul Hamid said last weekend the funds found in Mr Najib’s accounts were donated by an “Arab king and prince”, and were meant to be a political donation to be used during Election 2013. Mr Najib and various other UMNO leaders said the donor had given the funds in support of Malaysia’s stand against terrorism and because of its moderate Islam.

In yesterday’s blog post, Dr Mahathir said Mr Najib’s explanation that the money was given to Malaysia in appreciation for fighting militant group Islamic State was “absurd”.

“Explaining that it was given because of Malaysia’s stand against the (Islamic State) is absurd as the (Islamic State) showed their brand of terrorism only in 2014 whereas the money came in 2013 or before,” he said.

The retired statesman also poured cold water over claims that Mr Najib had been given the donation for championing a moderate version of Islam, as said by UMNO division chief Wan Adnan Wan Mamat. “Saying that it is because of Malaysia’s moderation in Islam is equally absurd as Malaysia had never been extreme in its practice of Islam,” Dr Mahathir added.

He has been at the forefront of criticisms against Mr Najib and his administration, mounting calls for the prime minister to step down.

In yesterday’s diatribe, Dr Mahathir also took aim at Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said he had recently met with the chief investment officer and wealth trustee representing the mysterious Arabs behind the RM2.6 billion donation.

“The new DPM says he has seen the Arab who gave the money. Then let him give proof that this Arab has huge sums of money to give away to Malaysia and many other countries,” Dr Mahathir said.

“Which countries? What is the source of this money? What business does he do? What is the name of the bank he uses. Show his account in the bank, the cheques he issued, particularly the US$700 million. The recipient bank should be holding these cheques.” AGENCIES

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