Salleh: What is Mahathir afraid of?

Sabah Umno leader says public debate pointless, asks if Mahathir fears being proved wrong

KOTA KINABALU: What is Dr Mahathir Mohamad afraid of, Sabah Umno deputy leader Salleh Said Keruak asked today, in the wake of reports that Dr Mahathir was willing to have an open public debate with Najib Razak on the affairs of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Salleh questioned Dr Mahathir’s haste in not wanting to wait for investigations by the Public Accounts Committee, and said: “Is he worried that the report will prove that the RM42 billion has not disappeared?”

His remark was a reference to Dr Mahathir’s frequent criticisms and allegations that 1MDB had lost billions, although press reports have said the company is saddled with RM42bn in debts. Yesterday, prime minister Najib Razak also referred to the RM42bn figure and pointed to the land in the proposed Tun Razak Exchange and Bandar Malaysia projects as evidence that the money had not disappeared as alleged.

Salleh said it would be unseemly for a sitting prime minister to accept challenges from ordinary citizens to a debate.

“It is not proper protocol for the Prime Minister to accept debates from normal citizens, even if that citizen happens to be an ex-Prime Minister or the Opposition Leader. If the Opposition Leader has any issues he or she can always bring this up in Parliament,” he said in a blog article.

He accused Dr Mahathir of having been “infected with the opposition disease” of challenging political opponents to debates, and said a debate would not resolve any issues “other than to just entertain the public that enjoys watching two people fight”.

At a public forum in Ipoh yesterday, when asked by an audience member, Dr Mahathir was reported to have stated his willingness to engage in an open debate with Najib.

Salleh, referring to reports on the purported challenge by Dr Mahathir, first remarked that the subject of 1MDB was too narrow an issue, then sought to narrow the focus even further. He said such a debate should be merely about whether 1MDB had lost RM42 billion, or that RM42 billion had “disappeared into thin air”.

He reiterated his call to Dr Mahathir to wait for the report by the Public Accounts Committee, which has declared it would investigate 1MDB and the reportedly dubious finances and investments undertaken by the company.

“Why is Dr Mahathir reluctant to wait for the PAC report?,” Salleh said. “What is he afraid of? Is he worried that the PAC report will prove that the RM42 billion has not disappeared?”