Mukhriz denies Dr M involved with Justo or doctoring 1MDB documents

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir yesterday insisted that his father, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, played no role in the alleged doctoring of leaked documents involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd and a Middle Eastern firm.

Speaking to Umno members at an event at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday, the Kedah mentri besar also said attempts to link his father to former PetroSaudi International executive Xavier Justo were malicious.

“It is inconceivable that my father is involved in twisting or editing facts or emails, and more recently being involved with Justo who is said to be the source of the leaked documents,” he said in a video from the event that was uploaded to YouTube.

Urging his father’s detractors to be fair, Mukhriz said that baseless allegations should not be made against the former prime minister if they were insistent that the Umno leadership must not be subjected to wild claims.

Explaining the rationale for Dr Mahathir’s “harsh” words against the Umno leadership, Mukhriz said he believed his father was driven by a desire to seek the “truth”.

“As my father, I believe what he is doing is to strengthen the party,” he added.

Justo was arrested at his home in Thailand last month and charged with attempted blackmail and extortion against PetroSaudi.

He was allegedly the source of leaked documents on PetroSaudi’s US$1.2 billion joint venture with 1MDB that fell through in 2009.

Justo’s arrest has led Malaysian authorities to conclude as false the allegations against 1MDB that were based on documents he allegedly leaked.

Hundreds of millions of dollars were allegedly siphoned out from the abortive 1MDB-PetroSaudi deal in one claim, while another purported that the funds were used to help a Malaysian tycoon purchase a local bank.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week voiced his suspicion that Dr Mahathir was masterminding the attacks against 1MDB as part of his campaign to remove the former from office.