Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted there was corruption during his tenure as the leader of the nation, but insisted he was not personally involved in such activities.
In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia Today, Dr Mahathir said his family members were also not involved in corrupt practices.
“During my time, there was corruption. But I was not involved in corrupt practices. I made sure that even my family could not be involved in government business because I might be accused of nepotism,” he stated. Dr. Mahathir added that, so far, only his sons had been asked to declare their assets. The investigation did not require him to declare his own assets, though he expressed his willingness to do so if requested, asserting that he had nothing to hide.
Full Cooperation Pledged with Anti-Corruption Commission
Dr Mahathir reiterated that he and his sons would fully cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki announced on May 7 that despite ongoing investigations, the anti-graft agency had no plans to summon Dr Mahathir for questioning about his assets.
Sons Asked to Declare Assets, Mahathir Willing to Comply
In January, MACC had asked Dr Mahathir’s two businessman sons – Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and Mirzan Mahathir – to reveal the wealth they had accumulated under their father’s tenure in office.
In April, Mokhzani and Mirzan issued a joint statement clarifying that the MACC order was aimed at investigating their father’s wealth.
“We understand the whole exercise is to determine if our father, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, abused his position as prime minister to enrich us. We are keen to disprove these accusations and want to prove that whatever we have earned over the years is through legitimate means, through proper channels, and without any crime being committed,” they stated.
Under section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009, MACC may require persons with dubious wealth to disclose their assets within 30 days of receiving the notification, regardless of whether the assets are in their possession or not. Mokhzani and Mirzan obtained several extensions of the deadline to comply with this order.
Political Retaliation Claims Against Government
Dr Mahathir previously suggested that his children were attacked as part of political retaliation by the government of incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He also noted that his ally, former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, had been investigated, highlighting a broader trend of political vendetta.
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