Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he and his family members were not involved in “corrupt practices” after his name was included in the list of suspects at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last May.
Previously, Mahathir's sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, were ordered in January 2024 to declare their assets as part of the investigation.
“In my time, there was corruption. But I myself was not involved in corrupt practices,” said Mahathir to CNBC's “Squawk Box Asia” Thursday, (23/5/2024).
“I ensure that even my family is not involved in government affairs because I might be accused of nepotism,” he added.
The 98-year-old former prime minister stated that he and his sons would “cooperate fully” with Malaysia's anti-corruption agency.
“So far they have only asked my son to declare his assets. The investigation does not involve demanding that I declare my assets,” Mahathir said, adding that he was willing to make a statement if asked by the authorities because he had “nothing to hide.”
Mahathir's sons reportedly said their father was the main target in a corruption probe into alleged abuse of his position as prime minister.
Former Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, a Mahathir ally, is also under investigation recently over financial dealings, according to local media.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to eradicate corruption, but critics accuse him of targeting his former political rivals – a charge he denies.
Malaysia suffered losses of 277 billion ringgit or around IDR 939.67 trillion due to corruption from 2018 to 2023, according to the government's latest report on corruption. The report also highlights the political impact of “extremely severe” corruption.
More than 80% of Malaysians expressed a “loss of trust and respect” for politicians and national leaders as a direct result of ongoing corruption issues, the report said.
Anwar sees that this weakening of trust and anti-corruption efforts is caused by a lack of serious leadership, the appointment of dubious people in important political positions and a lack of political commitment to enforcing anti-corruption measures and law enforcement.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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