Govt using the law to ‘threaten the people’, laments Dr M

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the authorities must identify the act being investigated and provide clarification about the issue in question.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today lamented that the government is using the law to “threaten the people” instead of protecting them.

In a post on X, Mahathir said the government stated that failure to obey its instructions could result in imprisonment and a fine.

He was referring to investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) which required those being investigated to produce financial records.

“The demand made is not easy to comply with. It requires massive research of all transactions in the last 40 years. Most people do not retain records of their activities over such a long period of time.

“But failure to report any action may be construed as deliberate withholding of information. It may result in costly and prolonged legal action. It may result in jailing. That is the threat,” Mahathir said.

The former Langkawi MP said the authorities must therefore identify the act being investigated and provide clarification about the issue in question.

“But what we are seeing is a general demand (for information) with no identification of the act being criminal,” he said.

Yesterday, Mahathir called on MACC to furnish any evidence it had to back up claims that he had accumulated billions of ringgit as alleged by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir said a notice by the anti-graft agency issued to his son Mirzan claimed that the former prime minister had committed an offence under Section 23 of the MACC Act, which deals with abuse of power.

Last month, Mirzan and his brother Mokhzani revealed that MACC had ordered them to assist in an investigation into their father.

Mokhzani said Mahathir was the “primary suspect” and that the brothers were called as witnesses to whatever MACC was investigating.

Last year, Mahathir filed a RM150 million libel suit against Anwar, alleging that the latter had accused him of enriching himself and his family members and that he was a racist.

Mahathir is seeking RM50 million in general damages and another RM100 million in exemplary damages.