Malaysia police investigate ex-PM Mahathir for ‘fake news’ about sabotage to plane
Mahathir claimed that there had been an attempt to sabotage a plane he had chartered to prevent him heading to the island of Langkawi to formally register his candidacy for the election
Malaysian former strongman Mahathir Mohamad, who heads an opposition alliance in next week’s national elections, has brushed off concerns that he is under investigation for spreading false news.
Kuala Lumpur police have said they are investigating Mahathir under a new law banning fake news after complaints over Mahathir’s claim that his chartered plane was sabotaged last week to prevent him from filing his candidacy in the northern resort island of Langkawi.
We have opened an investigation (into Mahathir) under the anti-fake news law,” the capital’s police chief Mazlan Lazim said.
“We will conduct the normal process of investigation.”
Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003, said late Wednesday he isn’t worried about the police probe.
“They can use whatever (law). I’m not afraid of any investigations. I have been investigated many number of times,” he told reporters after a late-night rally in the central state of Pahang.
The law, which was rushed through parliament last month just days before election was called, carries a stiff penalty of up to six years in jail and a fine of 500,000 ringgit (US$128,000).
Critics say it is aimed at silencing dissent ahead of the May 9 general election.
Mahathir, 92, has said he believed there was a “deliberate attempt” to stop him from going to Langkawi last Friday after the pilot found some damage to the jet just before departure.
He said he tried to source for other planes but was rejected by three people, including one who claimed he was under pressure. Mahathir eventually found a plane and made it to the island to register Saturday for the polls.
“We are dealing with a government party which is known to use all kinds of tricks to win the election. And one of the tricks, of course, is to stop me from being nominated, and especially me, because I happened to be the leader of the opposition,” he wrote on his blog.
“So I maintain my belief that the plane was deliberately tampered with to stop me from going to Langkawi.”
The Civil Aviation Authority said its investigation found no evidence of sabotage and the private plane company said it was a technical issue related to the front wheel.
Prime Minister Najib Razak slammed Mahathir for making irresponsible allegations and urged him to stop his “politics of lying”.
Mahathir made a political comeback amid anger over a massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that was set up by Najib but accumulated billions in debts and is being investigated for money laundering in the US and other countries.
Mahathir has galvanised a fractured opposition and become their prime minister candidate, in the strongest bid to oust Najib and his long-ruling coalition.
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse
