Dr M: Don’t forget to include Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants the proposed royal commission probing into his allegedly grandiose projects to investigate other mega expenses during his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s time.

He said the probe must also include “how RM270 billion of Petronas money paid during Abdullah’s five-year term was spent, what projects were financed by this huge fund and the cost of all these projects."

In his blog, Dr Mahathir called for a probe into losses incurred due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge (to Singapore) and the Johor Bahru to Padang Besar (double-track) railway and the cost over-run in the construction of the multi-billion-ringgit Bakun hydroelectric dam project.

He said for a successful investigation, the government must give full access to the commission to all the documents and accounts over the period 1981-2009

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang (picture) had on Tuesday called for the setting up of the commission to investigate allegations that Dr Mahathir wasted away Rm100 billion during his tenure as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir was responding to allegations by former managing editor of Asian Wall Street Journal, Barry Wain in his recently released book ‘Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times‘ . In the book he writes that Dr Mahathir had squandered up to RM100 billion in his years as PM.

Dr Mahathir said on Tuesday that he "reserved the right" to sue author Barry Wain, Lim and online news daily Malaysiakini.com for defamation.

"Depending upon the result of the commission, I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and Malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later," he said.

FMT
23/12/09

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