THE extensive media coverage of former Felda chairman Mohd Isa Samad in the latest scandal involving the land authority is another diversion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“To divert the attention from Malaysian Official 1, Isa’s case has been highlighted by government media units.

“Isa was menteri besar (of Negeri Sembilan) for more than 20 years, but there were no problems. Why does he have so many problems now?

“Is he being used as a scapegoat to cover someone else’s crimes?”

The Bersatu chairman was giving his policy speech at the party’s inaugural annual general meeting in Shah Alam.

The AGM was attended by 941 of the 983 registered delegates from 137 divisions with observers from 21 other divisions.

A similar observation was made by Isa’s former aide Zahid Mat Arip last week.

Dr Mahathir, who is a fierce critic of the scandals plaguing 1MDB, told delegates that they were fighting the influence of money and fraud.

“Government bodies are being used to cancel Bersatu’s registration and deny the registration of PH,” said Dr Mahathir.

“Constituency boundaries are being altered so that Umno and BN’s votes will increase. This is done openly,” he added.

He said reports by Bank Negara Malaysia, the Public Accounts Committee and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission that highlighted Prime Minister Najib Razak’s alleged crimes were not investigated.

He said PH would return the rule of law if it took over the government. – December 30, 2017.