PUTRAJAYA: The current government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is abusing the law for political means, claims Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The former two-time prime minister claimed that those who are opposing the current government will have the law thrown in their faces.
Such is the case of Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who would face jail time for criminal breach of trust, he added.
On the opposite end of this, he said those who are in support of the government would instead have their charges dropped despite the court already establishing a prima facie, or they might not face any investigations.
"My son told me that he is being investigated. Everything that he has done for the past 42 years must be proven that he is not involved in corruption.
"If not, he will be jailed for five years. Just because he is my son. But what about (Tan Sri) Azam Baki? His brother used his account to trade shares. PKR used to fight against this.
"That is the Malaysian justice system under the Anwar regime... " Dr Mahathir told a press conference, here, today.
He said he never resorted to such measures of selective prosecution in his over two decades in power.
"I know my statements will gain the attention of the current leaders. They have the power, they can make life miserable for me and ask me to do a lot of things and threaten me with jail time.
"I just want to explain that what I'm doing makes me sweat. I am 98 and if I am jailed, I will die in jail. But this is what is happening now (selective prosecution).
"It's all very political. It has nothing to do with the law. I'm saying this clearly: that people who are against the government will have the law thrown in their faces. Those who are for the government can escape even if they have 47 charges," he said.
Dr Mahathir said during his time as prime minister, he had never interfered with the enforcement agencies.
"The system is that the elected government forms a cabinet and rules the country, but they are not involved in the implementation as that is the work of the permanent bodies.
"A prime minister shouldn't interfere with the Attorney-General (A-G) or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"When I was prime minister, I just give orders. I don't have to be bothered with whatever is being done by the judiciary, A-G or MACC," he said.
The MACC had last week served businessman Mirzan Mahathir a notice to declare his assets, whether inside or outside the country, within 30 days.
The agency said the notice was issued in relation to the "revelations" obtained from the Panama Papers and the Pandora Papers.
On Sunday, Dr Mahathir claimed his son has also been threatened with imprisonment for five years.
Dr Mahathir also claimed that threats were given to his son, after he was accused of abusing his power and possessing billions of ringgit when he was prime minister.
He also questioned the apparent lack of accountability for certain figures implicated in the Pandora Papers.
At the same time, Dr Mahathir also demanded proof of the accusations leveled against him and emphasised the lack of evidence provided by the current prime minister.
He said he has filed a defamation suit against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, urging for the presentation of evidence in court.