KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad apologised yesterday for his choice of successor, saying he did not know that his decisions would lead Malaysia down the path of the current political crisis gripping the country.

“How would I know when I made the choice? I ask for forgiveness, I’m sorry to you all,” he was quoted saying by The Malaysian Insider.

“We can only guess, when someone is known as ‘Mr Clean’, we choose lah, but once he entered the arena, he became dirty,” Dr Mahathir said, responding to a question from a member of the audience at a public lecture in Perak on social evolution. He was asked if he had considered his successors’ leadership potential before passing on the mantle.

Dr Mahathir resigned in October 2003, after helming the government for 22 years. He passed the baton to Penang-born Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who later quit office in April 2009.

“So I tried to find a cleaner replacement. Who knew? This new guy’s idea (would be) ‘cash is king’ and if you give people money, they will like you,” Dr Mahathir reportedly said, adding that he did not name anyone.

Mr Abdullah was succeeded by current Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In a veiled attack at Mr Najib, Dr Mahathir said: “But in giving money to people, we must have money. If don’t have, can do business, but not if we are holding a position (in government), but stealing, can.” His remarks drew laughter and applause from some 4,000 people in the audience.

Mr Najib has been under intense political pressure, with Dr Mahathir openly calling for his resignation over the more than RM42 billion (S$14.4 billion) in losses incurred by state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), among other issues.

Following a report by The Wall Street Journal last month that up to RM2.6 billion was deposited from 1MDB-linked companies into Mr Najib’s personal bank accounts, investigations have revealed that the money in Mr Najib’s accounts were political donations from the Middle East in the lead up to Malaysia’s 2013 general elections.

Opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat has filed a civil suit against Mr Najib, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which is the country’s dominant party, and the Election Commission for election offences. If RM2.6 billion was used in the 2013 campaign, it would mean that Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition that includes UMNO, had used more than 26 times the allowed amount as outlined by Malaysian laws. AGENCIES