exclusive Controversial currency speculator cum philanthropist George Soros said the reason he got bad press in some Asian countries was due to attacks hurled against him by former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It really started with Mahathir blaming me instead of accepting responsibility (for the Asian financial crisis)," Soros told Malaysiakini in an interview in Hong Kong.

"He blamed me instead of accepting blame for his excesses, which led to the crisis."