KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister's press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad has lashed out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for saying that Malaysia is one of the top 10 most corrupt nations in the world.
Tengku Sariffuddin, describing Dr Mahathir as an "old tiger", said the former prime minister only made such claims for his personal political gain.
"The fact is that, the Transparency International’s latest list, Malaysia is the world’s 55th least corrupt country.
"It is clear that Dr Mahathir is either lying or can no longer differentiate between fact and fiction.
"If this the case, why then would he say that Malaysia is among the world’s 10 most corrupt nations when Malaysia is actually listed among the top one third of the world’s least corrupt countries?" he said in a statement today.
Tengku Sariffuddin also referred to how Dr Mahathir now partners with those his once sworn enemies, particularly jailed PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.
With Dr Mahathir's many about turns, said Tengku Sariffuddin, Malaysians can no longer believe whatever the former premier says.
Citing a speech made by Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Tengku Sariffuddin said the Johor ruler said a "certain politician" had forgotten that he had criticised Malays of being "mudah lupa" (easily forgetful), but was now "slightly senile, if not forgetful".
"His statements are embarrassing, regardless of whether he is lying or ‘senile’, as said by the Sultan of Johor.
"It is best that this old tiger retire for good."