PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad dismissed complaints about night-time raids on Najib Razak’s private residence, saying authorities needed to gather evidence quickly.

He said he was aware of complaints, some coming from Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmakers also, against the government over police raids on the former prime minister’s house late at night.

“We have to start doing something (about this case). For charges to be pressed, we need to provide evidence in court and so we need to find the evidence,” Dr Mahathir told representatives of PH party organs in an interview at Yayasan Al-Bukhary in Kuala Lumpur today.

Police began searching Najib’s private residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, in Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday night. A safe was uncovered but police as of now are still trying to open it.

Other raids at condominium units at the luxurious Pavilion Residences, which Najib owns, have yielded 284 boxes of designer handbags and 72 bags filled with cash and jewellery.

Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Amar Singh has said the seizures are in connection with investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd, which Najib started and was advisory board chairman for a period.

Amar earlier said police have yet to determine the total value of the items seized.

Dr Mahathir said he would not stop police from acting against Najib as corruption must be stopped “from the top”.

“Corruption has become a plague. It begins from the leadership. So we need to take action, regardless of who it is, to stop corruption,” he said. – May 18, 2018.