Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak crippled the special task force probing 1MDB because he could not control it, claimed former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"Najib was clearly uncomfortable with the investigations carried out by the task force. The members seemed to be too independent. Najib could not control them.
"The task force was apparently determined to seek the truth about the 1MDB and the 2.6 billion Ringgit in Najib’s account.
"Najib’s claim that it was a donation was not convincing," Mahathir wrote in his blog today.
He claimed it was then that Najib decided to strike, by telling people not to talk about 1MDB and by removing Abdul Gani Patail as Attorney-General, Muhyiddin Yassin as his deputy prime minister, and four BN lawmakers from the Public Accounts Committee including its chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Opposition to lose out
Mahathir also claimed that the transfer of MACC personnel to the Prime Minister's Department was a move to "shut them up" and that Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz was also rumoured to be investigated for alleged corruption.
"Najib is now safe from being charged with illegally amassing funds.
"With the huge funds at his disposal he would be in a position to bribe his way to victory. He may also use the money to rig the election," Mahathir speculated.
This he said, would spell doom for the opposition.
"The Malaysia where elections can even see opposition parties winning whole states will be no more," he said.
The former premier has previously accused Najib of a failed attempt to buy votes with the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) handouts.
He has also said that BN would lose the next elections should Najib stay in power, a tune that he appears to have changed today.
Related reports
RM2.6b donation claim is 'bulls**t', concurs Dr M
Dr M: I needed only RM10m, not RM2.6b
Two transferred senior MACC officers reinstated
'Democracy is dead, investigate Najib'
Zahid flexes Mandarin skills to woo Chinese
Suhakam urges cops to shed ‘political interference’
Youth group: Turn on headlights to protest gov't
Grave concerns among dons and intellectuals
