DR Mahathir Mohamad has denied engaging in corruption, saying he earned his money from his salary as a politician.

“Most of it is now gone,” the former prime minister said in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera.

He hit out at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for implying that he had used his time in office to enrich himself and his family.

“I have not seen this money and don’t know where it is. If I had taken the money, tell the court how you (Anwar) concluded that I had taken the money,” said Dr Mahathir, 98, who is pursuing a RM150 million defamation suit against Anwar.

In the suit, Dr Mahathir alleged that Anwar had defamed him by saying he is a racist who has enriched himself and his family during his 22-year years as prime minister.

“I am willing to go to Switzerland with Anwar to look for banks where I could have stashed away this money. If we can find such a bank, I will withdraw 100% of the money and give it to the Malays,” said Dr Mahathir, who led Malaysia from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020.

Dr Mahathir said he earned a monthly salary of RM8,000 when he first became prime minister and RM20,000 by the time he stepped down in 2020.

He said he was also provided with benefits, including a house and a car, which helped him to spend little while in office.

“They paid for my electricity, water bill… the government gives me transport, cars and drivers. I don’t have to pay anything,” Dr Mahathir said.

Dr Mahathir also accused Anwar of targeting his two sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani.

He said he does not benefit from his sons’ business activities.

“They don’t give me money from their business,” he said.

“Mokhzani only succeeded in business after I stepped down. During the time I was prime minister, he was not well-known for being a successful businessman.

“He was employed by petroleum companies as he was trained in that field,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said he spent most of his money trying to remove prime minister Najib Razak from power as the multibillion-dollar 1MDB financial scandal unfolded.

On Najib, who is seeking to serve the remainder of a six-year prison sentence under house arrest after being convicted for his role in the 1MDB scandal, Dr Mahathir said the man should not receive special treatment.

“Staying at home means you are free. You don’t come out of your house, but you are free,” he said.

“When you steal billions and you are very well treated, it is a bad example for future leaders.” – June 15, 2024.