Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Bernama photo
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he wants “people to be treated decently” when he responded to questions today on the late-night raid yesterday at the private residence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“The police have their standard operating procedure. I didn’t know that they should raid at night. But my instruction is very clear. I’m not going to torture people or things like that. I want people to be treated decently,” he said.
At a press conference after chairing a meeting of the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council here, Dr Mahathir was asked why the police had raided Najib’s house at night.
Bukit Aman Commercial CID director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh has confirmed that the police searched the private residence of Najib in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur, last night.
Bernama reporters saw 16 police vehicles, including a truck, arriving at the house at 10.15 pm. The vicinity was swarming with reporters and cameramen from the local and foreign media as well as curious members of the public.
The police also searched another residence of Najib, a luxury apartment in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Mahathir said the police might have reasons for their action but he was not informed about that.
Asked whether Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was also being investigated as it was reported that the police had seized handbags in the raid, Dr Mahathir said the authorities conducted investigations regardless of who the individuals were.
“If there is a case, we will take action. It is up to those conducting the investigations. The investigations involve several government agencies or ministries, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police, National Audit Department and other bodies which have information,” he said.
Najib and Rosmah have been blacklisted by the Immigration Department, and cannot leave the country.
Last Tuesday, Dr Mahathir said he expected charges to be filed against Najib following investigations into allegations against the former prime minister over the removal of hundreds of millions of US dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.
The Pakatan Harapan coalition led by Dr Mahathir defeated the Barisan Nasional headed by Najib in the general election on May 9. – Bernama