Mahathir’s sons seek ‘patience’ from Malaysia’s anti-graft body amid ‘impossible endeavour’ of digging through assets

Mirzan and Mokhzani said they are compiling all relevant documents, but asked the anti-graft body for patience as they try to collate 43 years’ worth of information

Mahathir Mohamad has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of launching a politically motivated attack on him and his family

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Mirzan Mahathir has been told to declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Photo: SCMPOST

Published: 11:17pm, 8 Feb 2024Updated: 12:02am, 9 Feb 2024

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s two eldest sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani on Thursday pleaded for patience from Malaysia’s anti-graft body, which the brothers say has demanded “an impossible endeavour” of an asset declaration of holdings going back to 1981, the year their father first came to power.

The pair, both multimillionaire businessmen, are embroiled in an anti-corruption probe that has already seen the 98-year-old Mahathir’s close ally, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, charged in court for failing to disclose his assets.

That followed a similar charge against Daim’s wife, Naimah Abdul Khalid, by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which says it launched its probe based on revelations in the financial data drops in the Panama Papers and the Pandora Papers.

The task at hand in collating 43 years’ worth of information is an impossible endeavour, and we ask for patience and understanding to address MACC’s request

Mirzan and Mokhzanijoint statement

Daim and his Naimah have denied all charges, while Mahathir has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of launching a politically motivated attack on him and his family.

In their first statement since the probe began, Mirzan and Mokhzani said they are compiling all relevant documents but asked the MACC for patience, saying they were given just 30 days to comply before being charged.

“The task at hand in collating 43 years’ worth of information is an impossible endeavour, and we ask for patience and understanding to address MACC’s request,” said Mirzan and Mokhzani in a joint statement.

For Mirzan, the deadline will be on February 16, while for Mokhzani, it is on February 25 according to their lawyer.

Mahathir’s sons seek ‘patience’ from Malaysia’s anti-graft body amid ‘impossible endeavour’ of digging through assets

Mirzan and Mokhzani said they are compiling all relevant documents, but asked the anti-graft body for patience as they try to collate 43 years’ worth of information Mahathir Mohamad has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of launching a politically motivated attack on him and his family

Mirzan and Mokhzani said they are compiling all relevant documents, but asked the anti-graft body for patience as they try to collate 43 years’ worth of information

Mahathir Mohamad has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of launching a politically motivated attack on him and his family