Dr Mahathir only wants a PM who listens to him, says Najib
(The Malaysian Insider) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak has described Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as quarrelsome and controlling, saying that the former prime minister only wants “a prime minister who listens to him”.
In an exclusive interview with The Star, Najib said with the exception of his father Tun Abdul Razak, Dr Mahathir picked quarrels with all the nation’s serving prime ministers.
“But a prime minister has to do what he thinks is the correct thing. I knew I would incur his wrath and I was right,” Najib told the daily.
Dr Mahathir is a vocal critic of Najib on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and RM2.6 billion “donation” controversies.
He has also alleged that Najib had bought the support of party leaders.
But Najib said Dr Mahathir had blown up the 1MDB issue and turned it from a business and cash flow issue into a political one.
He defended the RM2.6 billion donation, saying it was not unusual to share a “personal” relationship with the donors.
“It is not on an institutional or party basis. It is personal, that’s why they insisted it should be personal to me.
“That was the wish of the donors, I didn’t want to offend them. It went into my personal account, but not in the sense that I use it for everyday expenses,” he said.
Najib also denied that Umno division chiefs were bought, adding that this was why police had called up Dr Mahathir, and not because he attended the Bersih 4 rally in August.
Dr Mahathir had previously slammed police for “unjustly” singling him for his attendance at the demonstration that was deemed illegal.
Najib added that Dr Mahathir had failed to answer the police and did not have evidence to back up his claims.
