Dr M willing to give proof over Memali tragedy

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was ready to reveal evidence on the Memali tragedy, which claimed 18 lives in 1985.

However, he said he would only disclose it during a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the tragedy.

“I was the prime minister (then) so I have the proof. (Tun) Musa Hitam was the acting prime minister,” he said outside the Court of Appeal here yesterday.

The courtroom was abuzz when Dr Mahathir made an appearance shortly after the start of RCI proceedings into losses by Bank Negara Malaysia in the 1990s owing to for- eign exchange (forex) dealings.

He sat in the public gallery and stayed for about an hour.

Dr Mahathir later said he was there to witness the proceedings.

“This royal commission involves the image of the royalty, and as such it must follow the rules and regulations and procedures that would not affect the image of royalty, in particular the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said his acting counsel in the inquiry had asked to call him to testify.

“I must admit I know quite a lot. Maybe this is of interest to the commission, to know what I know,” he added.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim denied an allegation against him that was brought up during the inquiry.

In a statement, Anwar said former Bank Negara assistant governor Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid had insinuated that Anwar allegedly implied a cover-up was needed to protect his position as the then deputy prime minister and finance minister after he was briefed by Abdul Murad on the losses.

“That allegation is false. I never said that to him ... There was no need for me to say such a thing to a functionary like Abdul Murad, who was sent by then governor Tan Sri Jaffar Hussein to brief me on technical aspects of the accounting done by Bank Negara and the contents of their annual report.

“I must stress at all other times I dealt directly with Jaffar,” he said.

Anwar, who is currently in Sungai Buloh prison, said he was not allowed to be present during the inquiry despite repeated requests by his lawyers for him to attend.