PM: Mahathir made a mess of the country

(Malay Mail Online) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has accused Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of causing the mess in the country that he now has to bear the brunt of the blame for, amid the controversy surrounding the debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Najib also said in the Frequently Asked Questions section on his blog yesterday that the former prime minister did not have to face endless allegations during his time in office, from 1981 to 2003, as social media was not developed then.

“The ‘mess’ that Tun refers to, is largely of his own making as a result of his attacks and his echoing of Opposition lies and slander,” Najib wrote.

“These allegations have been amplified through the internet. This was something that Tun did not have to face when he was PM.

“Any controversy that arose over his or his government’s actions would take days if not weeks to develop.

“Tun did not have to face endless allegations that are recycled over and over and shared at lightning speed.

“The word ‘viral’ was almost non-existent during his administration,” the embattled prime minister added.

Najib also pointed out that former heads of state around the world generally do not intervene in the work of current administrations.

“Tun did many noble and great things as PM but he is no longer running the administration,” he said.

The Umno president also called Dr Mahathir a “master of public perception” who understands that political statements are not about the truth, but public opinion.

“This is why he continues to make insinuations, speaking half-truths, cracking misleading jokes and twisting statements to make his views exciting and palatable,” said Najib.

He noted that Dr Mahathir has suggested that 1MDB’s RM42 billion has gone “missing”, insisting that while the state investment arm faces a debt of RM42 billion, the money did not disappear.

“Was there a debt of RM42 billion? Yes. Was the money missing? No. But the Spin had begun!” said Najib.

Dr Mahathir has been calling openly for Najib’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding 1MDB that is currently being investigated by the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee.