Between 2004 and 2009, then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was constantly criticised for his reliance on the "Fourth Floor Boys" - a group of young men who once occupied the fourth floor of Perdana Putra.

These men, who were accused by critics of being gatekeepers to the prime minister, were described in Abdullah's authorised biography as "very young, came from prestigious British and American universities and left financially rewarding jobs to join his office".

One "Fourth Floor Boy" and Abdullah's political secretary, Vincent Lim said the attacks were just a strategy to get to the PM.