Dr M agrees to probe on whether he ‘burned’ RM100b

A combative Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he welcomed Lim Kit Siang’s call for the government to set up a royal commission to probe whether he “burned” RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption.

The former prime minister added, however, that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration should also ask the same commission to investigate Tun Abdullah Badawi.

“I will cooperate fully with the commission.

“Depending upon the results of the commission I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later,” he wrote on his popular chedet.cc blog today.

Dr Mahathir was referring to the recent publication of the book “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times,” written by former Asian Wall Street Journal managing editor Barry Wain.

In the book, Dr Mahathir is alleged to have been blamed for “wasting” or “burning up” RM100 billion in his tenure as the fourth prime minister. Malaysiakini.com published excerpts from the book.

Yesterday, the DAP’s Lim urged the Najib government to investigate the allegations.

“I welcome Lim Kit Siang’s proposal for Najib to set up a royal commission on whether I burned RM100 billion...during my 22-year reign,” said Dr Mahathir.

Such a commission, he said, should not be made up of government nominees, but should instead have as members “impeccable people including foreigners and members of Transparency International.”

He said the probe’s terms of reference should also include how RM270 billion of Petronas money, paid during Abdullah’s five-year term, was spent.

“It should include how much money was lost due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge and the Johore Baru to Padang Besar railway.”

He cited other projects during the Abdullah era which he said should be investigated.

They include the cost over-runs in the construction of the Bakun Hydroelectric project, and also the financing of the second Penang Bridge and the procedure followed when giving out the contract.

“I also agree with Lim Kit Siang that the investigation would reflect Najib’s commitment to ‘combating corruption’.

“In order that the enquiry by the commission is successful, the government must give an undertaking to give full access to the commission to all the documents and accounts of the government over the period 1981-2009. There should be no cover-up of any kind.”

He also suggested that Wain, the writer of the book that has sparked the controversy, should provide “documentary proof of any sum that he alleged I had burned.”

Dr Mahathir also urged the government not to ban the book for distribution in Malaysia. “I am not in need of protection,” he added.


comments


A warrior till the very last, TDM! It is interesting to note that he had also wanted the Commission of Inquiry to also include TAB in the probe. Seems that this man has strong evidence against the TAB administration, but the Najib adminstration will not have the guts to call the inquiry, because he is just so weak!

With all the scandals unfolding at such a rapid pace, he just does not know what to do, and the problem is with his baggages he just cannot do what he wants to do. This is dragging him and his administration down and the only way forward is to continue the way it is and and continue to bring Malaysia further down the international arena.

TDM, controversial to the end, why don't you just retire gracefully and enjoy your old age with your grandchildren?

Dr. M, you are 80+ years old already. Why bother suing for defamation? This cause of action will follow you to your grave.

Its not RM 100 Billion, its USD 100 Billion, read further at Asia Sentinel website -Grand Theft of Malaysia