Mahathir of Malaysia denies corruption, claims most of his money is now gone.

In the administrative capital of Malaysia, Putrajaya, the country's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vehemently rebuts allegations of corruption, firmly stating that the bulk of his financial resources accrued from his lawful salary over his extensive decades-long political career, most of which has now been depleted. In an exclusive interview with News Organization, Mahathir, currently under investigation by Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency, lashes out at the current Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, over insinuations that suggest he and his family amassed wealth during his tenure in office. Mahathir challenges Anwar to substantiate these claims, offering to accompany him to Switzerland to search for any purported hidden funds. He vehemently denies benefiting from his sons’ business ventures, highlighting that he explicitly prohibited them from engaging in business activities during his time as prime minister to sidestep accusations of nepotism.

Detailing his personal financial journey, Mahathir discusses the evolution of his modest salary throughout his tenure as prime minister, emphasizing the supplementary benefits provided by the government that facilitated significant savings over the years. Despite his declared assets upon retirement, Mahathir asserts his refusal of government offers of complimentary land, opting instead to purchase land in Putrajaya with his personal funds. Furthermore, he reflects on his financial contributions to political causes, particularly his endeavors in combating the 1MDB scandal during his retirement from official duties.

Additionally, Mahathir critiques the leniency shown towards former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was convicted in connection to the 1MDB case, expressing concern over the reduction of Najib's sentence and fine. He questions the fairness of such concessions, considering Najib's substantial embezzlement, and underscores the importance of upholding justice in such high-profile cases to set a deterrent precedent for future leaders.