Dr Mahathir: RCI on forex scandal is to send him to jail

(NST) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accepted that he could be in line for a prison term following the launch of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the forex scandal during his term as prime minister in 1982.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman described this as a witch hunt by the Barisan Nasional government to create reasons to incarcerate opposition leaders ahead of the 14th General Election.

“This was an issue that had been studied, researched and debated in Parliament at the time and it was found that there was no wrongdoing on the part of the prime minister at the time, which was me,” said Dr Mahathir.

He was speaking before an attendance of about 5,000 people at the PPBM Hari Raya open house at a resort here.

Also present was PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Dr Mahathir said the RCI and other similar moves, hinting at the Registrar of Societies’ nullifying of DAP’s 2013 central executive committee elections, showed an aggressive move to derail opposition leaders by the BN government.

“Maybe they think by jailing opposition leaders, it will ease their task of winning the general elections,” said Dr Mahathir.

“But this will not work because the tide of the people against the government does not depend solely on the opposition leaders.

“The parties themselves are strong enough to win the elections.”

Dr Mahathir also responded to assumptions that he is collaborating with jailed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as he feared repercussions should the latter become prime minister.

“We are collaborating because we share a common goal.” he said.