Dr Mahathir confirms meeting with Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: A one-on-one meeting between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak took place on Sunday. Though it is not known what was discussed, it is understood that the meeting at Najib's official residence in Putrajaya lasted nearly two hours.

Dr Mahathir confirmed yesterday that there was such a meeting but did not say where and when exactly.

The former prime minister said it took place sometime after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's denial last week that he (Abdullah) had prevented Najib from meeting him.

"Yes, he (Abdullah) did stop Najib, but later he denied it. Only after that Najib met me," Dr Mahathir said after launching "Kismet", a pictorial biography on the life, contributions and sacrifices of respected crime buster Sher Mohamed Allah Baksh.

Dr Mahathir said the meeting was held on Najib's request.

Prior to Abdullah's denial, Dr Mahathir had reportedly said that it would be bad if the prime minister did not trust his deputy.

Dr Mahathir also took a swipe at the Barisan Nasional government when he was asked on the sedition reports against DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

"Well, this is what would eventually happen if the country is governed by a weak administration. The people will not respect such a government."

Commenting also on a BN backbencher's statement in Parliament yesterday that he had been offered large sums of money to defect to the opposition camp, Dr Mahathir claimed the current crop of politicians were blinded by their greed for money.

"Nowdays, it's all about money and pursuing wealth, and not about being responsible leaders. It seems that if you have the money, you can buy anything these days."

Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan caught everyone's attention when he claimed that he had been bribed with "money enough to last three generations" to cross over.

Two other backbenchers from Sabah, Datuk Anifah Aman (Kimanis) and Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (Kinabatangan) also claimed the same.

The biography, written by Sher's son, Rafique, depicts his life as a man who gave his all to the police force and the country.

Sher, who died in 1996 at the age of 81, was a man respected by both peers and subordinates for his 35 years of exemplary performance and admirable service.

He played an active role fighting the communist terrorists in the jungles of Perak. In 1947, he was awarded a medal for gallantry by British Governor Sir Edward Gent of the Malayan Union.

Also present were his widow, Che Ragh Bibi Rahmat Ali, family members, former colleagues, including former IGP Tun Hanif Omar, and former Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz.