He said it would be unfair if only one party alleged to have unexplained riches is probed while the one who made the accusation is not investigated as well.
According to Utusan Online, the defence minister said Mahathir, who is now chairman of PPBM and Pakatan Harapan, was not perfect when he ruled from 1981 to 2003 and was no angel.
“It should not be just us dancing to their (opposition’s) tune. Tun Mahathir should also be investigated,” he said in Kangar today.
Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Mohamed Nazri Aziz said Mahathir, 92, should also be investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to assets owned by him and his family, just like Zahid was being reportedly subjected to a probe by the agency.
The tourism and culture minister said it would not be fair for Zahid alone to be investigated over Mahathir’s claim that he owned RM230 million.
“If Zahid is brave enough to state that he is willing to be investigated, I feel it is only fair that the person who made the allegation is also looked at because his sons are rich,” Nazri said.
“We also want to know how his sons suddenly became wealthy,” he told a press conference after officiating at the Padang Rengas Umno division in Perak today.
On Aug 1, Mahathir had called on Zahid to clarify where he obtained an alleged amount of RM230 million when he was the Umno Youth chief two decades ago.
He said Zahid had made an asset declaration to him as he was then prime minister and Umno president, after becoming the party’s youth chief.
“When I asked him where he got the RM230 million in his account, his answer was not clear,” Mahathir said.
“If he can remember, (he should) clarify where he obtained so much money from,” he added.
Zahid said he was ready to be investigated by MACC.
He said at that time he was a businessman, who was also the chief executive officer of a public-listed company and chairman of Bank Simpanan Nasional.
“I am open to an investigation by the MACC so as to correct the perception and lies created by that person (Mahathir). At the same time, I ask that the MACC also investigate his assets and that of his family. This is not a challenge, just asking… then it would really be transparent. Do not accuse people,” he said.
On Aug 4, MACC management and professional division deputy commissioner Jamidan Abdullah said the agency was willing to call Mahathir to explain his claim on the matter.
However, there was so far no official instruction to open an investigation paper on the claim, Jamidan said.
MACC says ready to call Mahathir if it decides to probe Zahid