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Malaysia 1MDB scandal
AsiaSoutheast Asia

Malaysian police question former premier Mahathir Mohamad over Najib criticism

The former prime minister is under investigation over his comments regarding the 1MDB scandal

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Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has called on Najib Razak to stand down over the 1MDB scandal. Photo: Reuters
Reuters

Malaysian police questioned on Friday former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who is under investigation after calling on the current prime minister to step down over a financial scandal.

Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving leader who remains a highly respected and influential figure, has become the fiercest critic of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is facing pressure over a graft scandal surrounding state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that investigators looking into the indebted fund had found that nearly US$700 million had been transferred into Najib’s bank account.

Najib denies wrongdoing or taking any money for personal gain and the state anti-corruption agency said the money was a political donation from an unidentified Middle East benefactor.

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But that has not stopped the criticism.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has denied any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal. Photo: EPA
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has denied any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal. Photo: EPA
Mahathir, 90, made a surprise appearance in late August at an anti-government protest in Kuala Lumpur and called for a “people’s power” movement to topple Najib.
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National police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said soon afterwards that the police would take a statement from Mahathir on his comments and they visited his office on Friday to do so, his aide, Sufi Yusof, said.
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