Questioning following police reports made against Mahathir for allegedly insulting the Bugis.
Police recorded a statement from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his remark at a rally at Padang Timur in October, where the former premier criticised the prime minister, calling him a “descendent of Bugis pirates”.
Four police officers from Bukit Aman recorded the statement at Mahathir’s office at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Precinct 8, Putrajaya, yesterday.
During the 45-minute session, which began at 2pm, 32 questions were asked.
Earlier, four of Mahathir’s lawyers, led by Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, had arrived to sit in during the recording of the statement.
When met by reporters afterwards, Haniff said Mahathir gave his full cooperation and answered every question except those that he was cautioned to answer in court if he was to be charged.The lawyer also revealed that he was informed the statement was taken following three police reports lodged by certain parties and that the case was being investigated under the Sedition Act, the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Early last month, the Selangor Sultan, who is of Bugis ancestry, rebuked Mahathir for seeming to try and incite Malaysians to “hate, insult and belittle the Bugis” and called for him to be investigated for sedition.
The Johor Sultan has also revealed that he too felt slighted over Mahathir’s “Bugis pirates” remark.
Haniff had previously defended the PPBM chairman, saying that Mahathir had used the term to criticise Datuk Seri Najib Razak only, not the community.