Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has repeatedly complained about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's purported motto 'cash is king' has conceded that his successor is right.

In an interview with UK-based The Guardian , Mahathir alluded that several of Najib's critical opponents, including bloggers, have been bought over and have since switched sides.

“Those bloggers who somehow suddenly switched over to supporting him were people who used to complain, to complain a lot […] what he says is quite true, ‘cash is king’," Mahathir was quoted as saying during the interview conducted in Putrajaya.

Previously, Mahathir had - on his blog - also complained that politicians close to Najib who have “documentary evidence” of misconduct “now gladly support him”.

Mahathir had also claimed that in his last meeting with the prime minister before the fallout between the two, Najib had defended his methods by declaring that "cash is king".

The elder statesmen had since repeatedly raised the incident in his criticisms of Najib.

“He needs a lot of money because he doles out money by the millions, according to his own supporters. That is corruption.

"If you want to be popular, do a good job; you will be popular. But to buy people off, it’s something morally degrading," said Mahathir.

Mahathir said he disapproves of this method as there isn't that kind of money around to support such a strategy.

“So how do you raise money? That is the beginning of corruption.

"1MDB was created so they can borrow huge sums of money,” he said.

'Bring the Arab'

1MDB is now struggling to repay US$11 billion of its debt amid claims of misappropriation.

Concurrently, RM2.6 billion was also discovered in Najib's personal bank accounts.

The MACC has said the huge deposits were not from 1MDB but from an Arab donor while Najib has denied taking public funds for personal gain.

However, Mahathir i s unconvinced.

“He said he got the money from the Arabs. Well, show. If it is legitimate, why are you hiding it?

"Bring the Arab, we’ll find out how rich is he, what is his business before we can believe that he (Najib) was given RM2.6 billion ringgit, US$700m, by a donor. How can you believe that?” he said.

“I’ve asked money from the Arabs for some university. I got nothing. I was prime minister,” he added.