“Yes, we know there are those who find the easy way to do things. They will support those who are in power,” the prime minister said when asked to respond to Marina’s criticism of Lim Kok Wing, the founder of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

Lim, who had once asked Mahathir to “shut up” before the latter’s return to the top post in May, today tweeted his support for the veteran politician.

“Tun Mahathir is absolutely right in saying that we just need to set our hearts and minds on achieving greater goals to be a great nation”, he said on Twitter, drawing an instant rebuke from Marina: “Do stop it @limkokwing! Where were you last year? Who was it who told Dad to shut up to ‘preserve his legacy’?”

Marina also revealed that Lim had visited her father “uninvited” during Hari Raya to apologise.

Mahathir today suggested that Lim was not the only one who conveniently voiced their support for him after he became prime minister for the second time.

“When I did not have power, they did not support me. After I came back to power again, they have voiced their support for me. There are many like that,” he told reporters when met at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

But Mahathir said he holds no grudges against Lim.

“I am a forgiving person. I forgive you too,” he quipped.

Lim, 72, was appointed by Najib Razak to head the former prime minister’s public relations campaign, just as the 1MDB scandal was exposed.