SHAH ALAM: A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) member lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today, urging an investigation into the source of wealth amassed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family.
Shah Alam PPBM committee member Wan Mohammad Ashraf Nasjaruddin alleges that the wealth accumulated by the former premier and party chairman raises suspicions and repeated demands for answers as to its origins have been ignored.
He claims that searches have revealed that close to 500 companies are registered under Tun Mahathir and four of his children's names.
Wan Mohammad asserts that 16 companies are under Tun Mahathir's name, 29 are under his daughter Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir’s name, 156 are under Tan Sri Mirzan Mahathir’s name, 158 are under Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir’s name, and 126 are under Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir’s name.
"The rakyat need to know if Dr Mahathir is a clean or corrupt leader. I urge MACC to kick-start an investigation (into) him and his children immediately. The investigations must be carried out transparently and fairly before the general election is called so that the people can judge Dr Mahathir and his children for themselves.
"If Dr Mahathir is proven to be corrupt, action must be taken against him, regardless of his age and his position as a statesman. I used to look up to Dr Mahathir as my idol, but now my trust and confidence in him has faded. I did not care about his wealth until I joined the party, which claims to be transparent and anti-graft.
"After joining PPBM, I spent day and night with party members who raised this matter. Then I realised that Dr Mahathir’s and his children’s wealth are questionable. That was when I knew this matter must be investigated by MACC," said Wan Mohammad.
He was met after lodging a report at the Selangor MACC headquarters at Wisma PKPS, claiming that thousands of PPBM members he had recruited are also demanding answers.
In the meeting with Selangor MACC officers, Wan Mohammad submitted a five-page document which lists the names of the companies registered under Tun Mahathir and his children.
Wan Mohammad said he had no choice but to make the report on behalf of some 3,000 members after raising the matter with Mukhriz, who merely responded with silence.
"Once, I drove all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Petani in Kedah with the intention of speaking with him about this. Mukhriz only met me for 10 minutes, but he gave me no answers (and) skirted around the issue instead. I will not quit the party because of this and I am not afraid of being sacked for questioning the top leaders," he added.