Forex controversy: Opposition's image to be affected if Mahathir found guilty

PETALING JAYA: The image of the opposition will be affected if former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is found guilty by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) over a forex controversy decades ago.
Amanah communications director Abdul Khalid Samad said the government's decision to set up the RCI was clearly politically motivated as it was only done when Mahathir had joined the opposition.
He questioned whether the formation of the RCI after 23 years was genuinely intended to solve the issue or just to put the opposition in a bad light.
"The RCI being called after 23 years, clearly it's politically motivated, especially when Mahathir joined the opposition. If Mahathir is not with us maybe the issue will remain silent.
"Obviously there will be some impact on the image of the opposition, but by virtue of the fact that it is being done now, that itself is very questionable," he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters today.
Also present at the press conference was opposition leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The government on Wednesday announced the formation of the RCI to look into the massive foreign exchange losses in the 1990s, during the premiership of Mahathir.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister's lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said Mahathir must be allowed to testify before the RCI including cross-examining witnesses of the complainant and prosecutor, as well as presenting his own witnesses, statements and evidence, where deemed necessary.
"In terms of the law and natural justice, any party accused of allegedly causing a forex market loss of US$10 billion (RM4.29 billion) in the 1980s and 90s must be given the opportunity to present himself at the RCI proceedings.
"It is also urged that the government does not hinder his (Mahathir) right of defence when the proceeding commences," he posted on Facebook today.