Tun Dr Mahathir during a Bersatu press conference in Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya July 15, 2019. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

PUTRAJAYA, July 15 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ridiculed today those who claimed DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang was the mastermind behind the formation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, suggesting the accusers were mad and should be admitted to the psychiatric hospital.

“Yes he gathered and met all Malay leaders and warlords and told them we should all form PPBM so we just unanimously said yes, yes, yes,” the PPBM de facto leader told reporters here.

He then belittled detractors who suggested Lim had aimed to divide the Malays by forming yet another Malay-based party as having “inferiority complex”.

“They think the Malays cannot think,” the 94 year old quipped.

Dr Mahathir was seemingly aiming his salvo at disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who made the allegation two days ago.

The Barisan Nasional advisory board chairman claimed to have reliable information that Lim had plotted PPBM’s formation with the idea of weakening Malay political rule, an accusation Umno often used against the DAP.’

Najib asserted the source who said that Lim had influenced Dr Mahathir to form Bersatu was previously from the ruling coalition. Rumours then swirled that Lim was also present at the supposed meeting that materialised PPBM.

To this allegation, Dr Mahathir replied: “Whoever said that belongs in Tanjung Rambutan.”

Lim has also rubbished off Najib’s claim as preposterous and labelled the former prime minister “an unscrupulous, unprincipled, Machiavellian and incorrigible liar.”