Prominent economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram recalled Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s economic legacy, specifically on the latter’s privatisation policy during his first tenure as prime minister.

Jomo claimed at a forum that Mahathir had embraced the policy, which was pioneered by former Britain prime minister Margaret Thatcher, with an added “Malaysian twist, which is crony-privatisation”.

His remarks drew laughter from the audience but he stopped...