'It's not about the crooked bridge' - Dr Mahathir

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said people have got it wrong if they think he’s unhappy about the crooked bridge project.

In a news conference today, he told reporters that the crooked bridge project has got nothing to do with his recent criticisms on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I wrote about 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) but people said ‘Oh, he’s unhappy not with 1MDB but with the crooked bridge.

“I don’t advocate the removal of a prime minister because he’s too afraid of Singapore to build a crooked bridge. I am sympathetic towards him because he is very weak…he cannot build the bridge brick-by-brick. So for that, I excuse him.

“But when you lose money and you cannot explain where the money is, I think, you’re not competent to become prime minister,” said the former premier in what seemed to be his harshest criticism against Najib yet.

He was speaking to the media after attending the International Forum ‘Criminalise War, Energise Peace' organised by Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW) at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today.

On the future of UMNO, Dr Mahathir said: “We (the rakyat) are faced with this choice. Either you remove a prime minister who has failed…who will lead UMNO to losing the next election, or you take your chance, that if he goes off, we might be able to revive UMNO.”

When asked on the pressure being put on the Kedah Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir) in stating his allegiance, Dr Mahathir quipped, “That’s unfair! The Kedah MB happens to be my son. I can’t answer, I’ll be bias!” and laughter filled the room.

Still smiling, he then told the reporter to ask him another question.