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Dr M embroiled in police criminal defamation probe

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will be investigated for criminal defamation, announced Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday.

Dr Mahathir Mohammad is currently in Jordan and will be back in Malaysia on Sept 9. Photo: Reuters

Dr Mahathir Mohammad is currently in Jordan and will be back in Malaysia on Sept 9. Photo: Reuters

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KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will be investigated for criminal defamation, announced Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday.

“We have to record his (Dr Mahathir’s) statement because we have received a police report from an UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) division leader, and also on the statement he made on corruption,” Mr Khalid told reporters. He explained that the investigation will fall under Section 500 of the Penal Code. If convicted, Dr Mahathir could be jailed for two years, fined or both.

During last weekend’s massive anti-government rally, the country’s longest-serving prime minister allegedly said that UMNO division chiefs had been bribed.

Mr Khalid, however, did not say when Dr Mahathir will be called up.

According to Malaysian media reports, the retired statesman is currently on a trip to Jordan and would only return on Sept 9.

At the rally held last Saturday and Sunday, Dr Mahathir and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali had visited the event on both days.

Dr Mahathir said that although he was opposed to street protests, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration has destroyed available avenues for recourse, and this had forced him to attend the rally.

He stated that he did not support rally organisers’ demands for electoral reforms, a clean government and measures to save Malaysia’s economy, but only wanted Mr Najib to step down.

Dr Mahathir has been openly critical of his successor over the RM42 billion (S$14 billion) of debt racked up by state investment firm 1Malaysia Investment Berhad, and political donations received by Mr Najib from the Middle East before the 2013 election.

Yesterday, Mr Khalid said the police had a responsibility to act on reports lodged, and declined to comment when asked if Dr Mahathir, as a retired statesman, would be afforded any special rights.

“He is a statesman and we will, of course, care for our statesmen with high regard,” he said.

Mr Khalid first announced on Wednesday that Dr Mahathir would be summoned to give his statement over his attendance and remarks made at the weekend’s rally. AGENCIES

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