Ex-SB deputy: I was ordered to advise Dr M to tone down PM attacks

(Malay Mail Online) – Former deputy director of the Special Branch (SB) Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador said today he had met with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad several times over the past three years and was instructed to advise the former prime minister to tone down his attacks against the government.

Speaking at a news conference here, Abdul Hamid said that he was asked to gather Dr Mahathir’s views on national issues as well as to get him to refrain from openly attacking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I have met Tun Dr Mahathir. For the past three years I was ordered to meet him to get his views and to get his agreement to not do something… he initially agreed that he will not attack the prime minister openly,” the ex-Special Branch officer explained.

But Hamid said that Dr Mahathir was unhappy with the way the government was running things.

“Tun told me what he did not like, certain projects… he did not like how BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid) was being carried out,” he said.

Last week, a text message on the WhatsApp phone application sent out to several reporters claimed Hamid — who received a sudden transfer out of the police intelligence unit into the Prime Minister’s Department — would be holding a press conference to explain Dr Mahathir’s involvement with London-based whistleblower website Sarawak Report in fabricating documents belonging to 1MDB in an attempt to oust Najib.

Hamid has since denied this.

“Even if I am cut in 12 pieces, I will never defame the servant of Allah who has contributed so much to the country,” Hamid told Malay Mail Online last week when contacted for confirmation on the rumoured press conference.

Hamid is currently on leave after formally leaving the SB last week.