Depending on who you ask, Anwar Ibrahim is either on a mission to liberate Malaysia from decades of corruption or settling old political scores under the guise of reform.
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The latest target of the prime minister’s anti-graft investigators? His 100-year-old arch rival and former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recently disclosed that British authorities were assisting with its more than year-long investigation into assets allegedly linked to Mahathir, who twice led Malaysia in a career spanning generations.
The commission offered no further details, but the symbolism was unmistakable: the country’s “untouchable” old guard was no longer off limits.
Mahathir met the revelation with mocking disdain. “It turns out I have assets in the UK,” he quipped. “Please let me know so that I can claim these assets. Once I get these assets I will give them away as a present to the poor.”
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Behind the sarcasm lurks bitter political drama. Mahathir claims Anwar is stalling for time on a defamation lawsuit filed against him by the elder statesman, after Anwar accused the two-time ex-prime minister of stealing billions during his long rule.