Only the "blind, dumb and deaf" think there is no difference between the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and opposition Barisan Nasional (BN), said Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday, Aug. 18.

PH pushed for greater reforms in civil liberty & accountability

Speaking at a press conference after launching the 62nd International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Mahathir made the remark in response to critics who say the PH has not achieved much since coming into power more than a year ago.

According to Malay Mail, Mahathir cited reforms in governance and civil liberty as the PH coalition's most obvious achievement.

Mahathir then asked reporters if they ever saw former prime minister Najib Razak limit the term for prime minister to two terms.

Criticised BN for 1MDB scandal

He also brought up the 1MDB scandal allegedly involving Najib when Malaysia was under the BN.

According to The Sun Daily, Mahathir said: "Did we borrow RM42 billion (S$13.9 billion)? Did we have our own 1MDB? Did I steal money? Did I bribe people? Prove it if I bribed people and you can take me to court and charge me."

"We debate on 1MDB, but did Najib allow debates on 1MDB and everything else? Nothing. To say there is no difference, only a blind, dumb and deaf person will say that."

He added that critics "only see the bad things" as they want to "bring down this government".

Took a jab at Najib

In another jab at Najib, Mahathir said Najib's supporters appear to have looked past an obvious flaw from Najib, who "goes around saying cash is king".

Malay Mail reported Mahathir as saying: "Do you see me say such a stupid thing? Am I like Najib to make such an assertion?"

In September 2018, Najib admitted in a Facebook post that he did say "cash is king" to Mahathir back in 2015 when they were still friendly with each other, Free Malaysia Today reported.

However, he claimed that he did not mean giving cash handouts to buy support or to bribe someone.

Top image via Mahathir's Facebook