KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has responded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks about his sons’ wealth, saying graftbusters have never claimed the money came from illegitimate sources.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had previously said the agency was satisfied with the declarations made by his sons, Tan Sri Mokhzani and Mirzan.
It was previously reported that Mokhzani had declared total assets amounting to about RM1 billion, with a personal value of RM316 million, while Mirzan declared a total of RM246.2 million in assets, with a personal value of RM120 million.
Last week, Anwar was reported as saying that Mokhzani and Mirzan should return their wealth to the government if it was proven to have been acquired through unclear or illegitimate means.
In a statement today, Mahathir questioned Anwar‘s remarks.
“Was Azam satisfied without knowing the sources of this wealth?” he said.
“The MACC questioned my sons many times, each time for many hours. Did MACC ask about the sources of the wealth as declared?”
Mahathir said his sons’ wealth comprised property, shares, and liabilities, among other things, acquired over two decades of doing business.
“Such properties appreciate over time. The MACC did not state that the sources are ‘unclear or illegitimate’.
“The MACC and Azam Baki cannot state they are satisfied if the declarations are unclear or illegitimate.
“Is Anwar demanding that we sell all our property and give the proceeds to the government? On what ground is he making this demand?”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
