Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today affirmed that he had never given any instruction on the issuing of identity cards (ICs) to illegal immigrants in Sabah during his tenure as the fourth Malaysian prime minister.

Testifying before the Royal Commission of Inquiry, here, to investigate the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah, Dr Mahathir repeatedly stressed that the issuing of ICs to the illegal immigrants was done in accordance with Malaysian law and the Federal Constitution.

Questioned by conducting officer Manoj Kurup, Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years from 1981 until 2003, also denied that he had any knowledge about the so-called "Project IC" or "Project Mahathir" in Sabah, which allegedly granted citizenship to illegal immigrants.

Manoj: Did you at anytime when holding office as prime minister and home minister give any directive to issue ICs to the illegal immigrants?

Dr Mahathir: No, I did not. The issuing of ICs to the illegal immigrants was done in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the law in Malaysia.

Manoj: There were complaints that some illegal immigrants who came to Sabah and unqualified as citizens, were given ICs by the authorities at that time through a so-called project "Project IC". Do you have any knowledge of this?

Dr Mahathir: I only heard of "Project IC" recently. Before this, I never knew of this "Project IC".

Manoj: Some people called it "Project Mahathir". Do you know that?

"Oh, thank you very much for calling the project under my name," the former premier said, drawing laughter from people in the courtroom.

"I heard my name had been used everywhere for many things. They called me racist, ultra but I'm never bothered. It's part of my political life," said Dr Mahathir.