Under attack, Dr M vows to keep firing at 1MDB

 

The government's alleged inability to answer mounting questions on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has led to the emergence of blogs targeting its critics, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former premier said that he and several others were the victims of deliberate demonisation by bloggers with political motivations.

"The intention is to undermine my credibility. But I will continue to ask where is the money which has been brought back from Cayman (Island)?

"Why is there a need to borrow money to pay debts when you have RM8 billion? Until these and other questions are answered, the questions will keep coming,” he added in his blog post.

Attacking the critics, wrote Mahathir (left) yesterday, fueled suspicions that all is not well with 1MDB.

While saying that he is not surprised by this, he said he was caught off-guard by a report by The Star’s on the attacks.

“Usually the mainstream media, and The Star is also one of them, would not report anything that may reflect badly on the “authorities”. But it has done the unthinkable now, although obliquely,” he said.

Mahathir added that 1MDB is one of many reasons he does not support Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Despite being an Umno member and supporter, he will continue to criticise anything that he believes to be detrimental to the good governance of Malaysia.

“Borrowed money cannot be regarded as wealth. And there are many things done with 1MDB money that are just plain wrong.

“The government should not be indulging in buying and selling shares to make money for itself,” he said.

'Blogger behind attacks'

The Star had published a report on Tuesday quoting The Malaysian Insider saying that a blogger supportive of businessperson Low Taek Jho, was behind the attacks.

According to the report, several blogs operated by the blogger known only as “ahrily90” had reportedly been attacking Mahathir, CIMB Group chairperson Nazir Razak (left), former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, and owner of The Edge Media Group Tong Kooi Ong among others, while heaping praise on Low.

Mahathir and Daim had been critical of 1MDB while Nazir had expressed reservations about the scheme.

The blogs had also singled out The Edge and The Malaysian Insider’s reports critical of 1MDB, claiming that it is part of Tong’s ploy to crash the ringgit and profit from it. Both The Edge and The Malaysian Insider are part of The Edge Media Group.

Low - better known by his nickname Jho Low - was involved in the setting up of the Terengganu Investment Authority that became the precursor to 1MDB.

He has since denied having ties to the smear campaign and said that he respects Mahathir, Nazir, and Tong, according to The Malay Mail Online.