Tun M Claims Abdullah Badawi S Son Said It Was Our Turn To Steal Money After His 2003 Resignation

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IN a recent podcast, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shared insights on his leadership and regrets. He alleged that Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son once expressed intentions to use his father’s position for personal enrichment, reflecting a broader issue of corruption among his successors.
Dr Mahathir also criticised former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, particularly for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal and Najib’s controversial “Nak malu apa bossku” slogan, which he claimed reflected a lack of accountability.
“They (his successors) believed that during my time as prime minister, I was abusing power and was corrupt. The son of Abdullah told my son, ‘It was your turn before, now it is our turn’. Our turn for what? To steal money. I was shocked,” he said in a podcast on YouTube.
“They viewed the power of the prime minister as a means to enrich themselves. At that stage, I regretted resigning as prime minister (in 2003),” he added.
Dr Mahathir, soon to turn 100, said he was happy when Najib succeeded Abdullah as prime minister in 2009. He thought Najib would do well.
“When Najib took over, I was very happy. Here was the son of an illustrious former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. He was going to do things well. But you know what happened,” he said, referencing the 1MDB scandal and his role in ousting Najib.
Dr Mahathir defended the gradual tapering of bumiputera affirmative action under the New Economic Policy, likening it to transitioning from crutches to independence. However, he acknowledged cultural challenges and the slow pace of progress in closing economic gaps with the Chinese community while admitting he felt embarrassed defending such policies.
He also discussed the need to overhaul the education system and lamented his decision to resign in 2003, believing it exposed Malaysia to corrupt leadership. Reflecting on Singapore, he praised Lee Kuan Yew as a brilliant thinker but described him as “kiasu”.
Dr Mahathir attributed his defeat in the last general election to corruption, reiterating his disappointment in Malaysia’s political landscape. — Focus Malaysia

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