Malaysia police questions former PM over seditious remarks

Malaysian police today questioned country's longest serving former prime minister Mahathir Mohammad over an alleged seditious remark made by him against the incumbent premier Najib Razak at an anti- government rally here in August.
The 90-year-old outspoken former premier has been in the news after he criticised premier Najib recently asking the latter to step down over a financial scandal involving state funds.
Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years and largely responsible for transforming Malaysia into a modern economy, said he did not know what he was being investigated for.
"They asked questions, and I said I will not answer. I did n't answer," he told reporters after he was questioned by the police at his office today.

Mahathir further said that it was"up to the police" to arrest him.
Mahathir's lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the police questioned the veteran politician over several issues including thealleged seditious remarks during the Bersih 4 rally in August.

He refused to give details.
Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving leader is still an influential figure in the country.
He has become a fierce critic of Najib, who is embroiled in a graft scandal involving state funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a strategic development company, wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia.
In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that nearly USD 700 million had been deposited in Najib's personal account from the indebted state fund .

Najib has denied that he took any money for personal gain and the country's anti corruption body said the money was a political donation from an unidentified Middle East benefactor.
However, the allegations led to a massive anti government rally of non government organisations, academics, lawyers and opposition supporters, calling for a probe into the issue and resignation of Najib.
Mahathir made a surprise appearance at the rally, showing his support and irking the Najib government.
The main organiser of the Bersih 4 rally, Maria Chin, was charged this month under the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to notify authorities about the gathering.

Last month Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in a written reply in the parliament, said that Mahathir was being investigated over calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Najib.