Mahathir's statement over 1MBD doubtful - Mahdzir

The statement by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad denying he had ever met United States officials over 1Malaysia Development Berhad is most doubtful, said UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said this was because Dr Mahathir's two senior aides, Mathias Chang and Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, had talked of a trip to the United States in relation to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Chang was a political secretary to Dr Mahathir while Khairuddin is the former Batu Kawan UMNO vice-chief.

"Although Tun M (Dr Mahathir) denies any knowledge, the fact that his senior aides had been there indicates that he also knows of the matter.

"There are certain groups trying to undermine the credibility of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and UMNO, especially with the next general election close at hand," he said to reporters after the handing over of Aidilfitri goodies by Padang Terap UMNO Division deputy chief Datuk Ghazali Ibrahim here today.

Mahdzir was commenting on the statement by Dr Mahathir reported by a news portal that he had never met any US official on the matter.

This came in the wake of the announced move by the DoJ to seize US$540 million (RM2.3 billion) of assets allegedly belonging to 1MDB.

-- BERNAMA