KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has demanded that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim prove his claims that he had exploited his previous position as prime minister to benefit his family and himself.
Mahathir said that this was a claim made by Anwar in an effort to stop the launching of the "Malay Proclamation" event that he had been invited to as a guest.
"I want proof from Anwar that I took everything from the Malays for my family, my children and myself," said Mahathir on his blog.
"Making accusations is easy, but accusations that are not clearly proven cannot be accepted as the truth. It is slander," he added.
During the PKR Congress last weekend, Anwar had made a reference to someone "who in the past had been in power for 22 years and an additional 22 months" taking advantage of his position to make his family and himself wealthier.
Anwar, however, did not mention any names but also said that the person only just realised and complained about the Malays losing everything after he was no longer in power.
Mahathir, meanwhile, said he worked hard to restore the state of the Malays when he became the prime minister for the second time after the 14th General Election.
"However, Pakatan Harapan was overthrown and I lost my position, which is why I am complaining now.
"I am complaining now because the Malays have lost everything since I resigned as prime minister.
"The Malays became so poor after I was no longer the prime minister," he said.
Mahathir also said that he wanted to hold a "Malay Proclamation" gathering to "make Malays aware of their problems."
However, he claimed the event was obstructed by certain other parties.
Mahathir was convinced that Anwar was behind it, even though he had no proof.