Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said he was ready to be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the allegations made by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he supposedly had RM230 million in his bank account in 1996.

The deputy prime minister said he was willing to be investigated by MACC in order to correct what he described was a lie, but at the same time, he urged that the assets of the former prime minister and his family are also investigated.

“I am open to an investigation by the MACC so as to correct the perception and lies created by that person (Dr Mahathir). At the same time, I ask that the MACC also investigate his assets and that of his family. This is not a challenge, just asking...then it would really be transparent. Do not accuse people,” he said.

Zahid was speaking at the launch of the Baling Umno division delegates’ conference. Also present was Umno division head, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim who is also Baling member of parliament.

Mahathir recently raised the issue of the asset declaration that Ahmad Zahid made when he was appointed Umno Youth Head, including owning the RM230 million in his bank account.
Mahathir, however, said he did not have any documented evidence of these claims.

Ahmad Zahid said at that time he was a businessperson, who was also the chief executive officer of a public-listed company and chairperson of Bank Simpanan Nasional.

He added that he was willing to swear in any mosque in the country over the accusation that he had lied about having a recording of his conversation with Mahathir who tried to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said Mahathir should also swear over the accusation that he made against him.

“If I am willing to swear, he must also do so….he (Dr Mahathir) has twisted things and said it was me (who planned to topple Najib)," Ahmad Zahid said.

In his speech at the launch of the Umno Jerlun division delegates’ conference, Ahmad Zahid revealed that the former Umno president was the real mastermind in the attempt to topple Najib and he had enough recorded evidence of this.

- Bernama