‘It’s absurd’: Mukhriz Mahathir lashes Malaysian government’s claims he has plotted with his father to take top job
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been calling for Najib Razak to step down over the scandal-hit state-owned investment firm 1MDB.
Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former Malaysia prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has branded as “absurd” allegations that father and son are plotting to derail the current government.
Allegations of corruption continue to plague Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his aides have hit back at Mahathir, one of Najib’s harshest critics, by claiming he is trying to pave the way for his son, Mukhriz, to take over.
“[Mahathir] placed saving the political career of his son … Mukhriz Mahathir, above the national interest,” Najib’s press secretary Tengku Sarifuddin said this week.
Mahathir, 90, is Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister who stepped down in 2003 after ruling for 22 years.
Since last year, Mahathir has been calling for Najib to step down over the scandal-hit state-owned investment firm 1 Malaysia Berhad (1MDB) which racked up 50 billion ringgit of debt over six years. Najib chairs 1MDB advisory board.
It’s totally absurd and they [Najib and his supporters] should know him better than that
Mukhriz, 51, is a politician with the ruling Umno party. But he told the South China Morning Post he