Mahathir Mohamad questioned over alleged plot to oust Malaysia PM

Police in Malaysia have questioned former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is being investigated for remarks against the country’s current prime minister.

An aide for Mahathir said police questioned the country’s longest-serving revered leader at his office on Friday. He did not give specific details about the meeting.

Police had said before that they sought a statement from Mahathir over his recent remarks that urged the toppling of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Mahathir has become the harshest critic of Razak, who is facing his worst political quandary since rising to power following revelations that he has hundreds of millions of dollars in his bank accounts.

A probe by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission said the money was political donation from an unknown supporter in the Middle East. But criticism has not subsided.

In August, Mahathir called for a “people’s power” movement to oust the prime minister after attending an anti-government demonstration organized by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections in Kuala Lumpur.

“I would like the UMNO [United Malays National Organization] members of parliament, the heads of division to remove him,” Mahathir said then, referring to Prime Minister Najib.

Directing his criticism at the premier, Mahathir said, “You are selling your soul, your country, your race. This country will end up being one of those countries where there is no governance.”

The current scandal involving Malaysia’s top executive hit the headlines in early July after the US-based Wall Street Journal said in a report that $700 million had been transferred to Najib’s private accounts before the 2013 election. The paper also suggested that the money came from a state development fund.

The premier has rejected accepting money for personal benefit.

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