Reading between the lines of US President Barack Obama’s speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic (Apec) summit in Peru over the weekend, Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed that some of his remarks were aimed at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, Communication and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak disagreed, and described Mahathir and those who made a similar conclusion of “bordering on wishful thinking and being delusional.”

On the contrary, the Umno treasurer said perhaps Obama was referring to Mahathir.

“What makes them (prime minister’s detractors) think that with so many issues to worry about, the whole world is focused on just one issue: 1MDB?

“They are suggesting that with the world facing conflicts and chaos at every corner of the planet the US president has time for nothing else but for only one issue,” he added.

Previously, Salleh said detractors claimed Najib was afraid of leaving Malaysia for fear the US would arrest him.

“Now they say the US president attacked Najib in his speech.

“President Obama actually made a general reference to US policy and was not, as Mahathir says, a direct reference to Najib,” he added.

Salleh pointed out that Obama had said the US cannot interfere in the internal matters of another country.

“So maybe Obama was referring to Mahathir and not Najib.

“And this contradicts what Mahathir and his people earlier said: which is the US is going to take action against Najib in a US court,” he added in a blog posting.

Earlier, Mahathir claimed Obama’s remarks regarding development funds being siphoned into Swiss banks was in reference to Najib, and the latter was aware of this.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain. The attorney-general has also cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The prime minister has accused Mahathir of spearheading a campaign to topple him from power.