Releasing audio just like showing Rosmah's seized belongings - PM

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that the MACC did nothing wrong when it publicly released phone recordings of conversations between Najib Abdul Razak and others in 2016.

Critics have said that releasing the recordings publicly could be sub judice to Najib's ongoing 1MDB and SRC International trials.

However, Mahathir (photo) said this is no different than when police showed off the items they seized in apartments linked to Najib in 2018.

"Whether I support (the MACC's actions) or not is not important, what's important is whether it can be done.

"We did it before, when (police) raided the Pavillion (Residence condominium), we found many items belonging to Rosmah (Mansor) and Najib, and we showed it to the public, we didn't hide it until after the trial," he told reporters in Langkawi tonight.

A video of his remarks was uploaded by Malaysia Gazette.

Police raided apartments linked to Najib on May 18 and June 27 and revealed at a press conference that the haul included 2,200 rings, 1,400 necklaces, and 567 handbags.

However, the press conference was a week before Najib was slapped with his first round of charges involving SRC International.

The MACC had defended its release of the recordings as being of public interest.

MACC chief Latheefa Koya had said the recordings raised serious questions about "abuse of power, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice, compromising national security, fabrication of false evidence through foreign aid and connivance."

Najib's lead counsel in his ongoing criminal trials related to 1MDB, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said they are considering to initiate contempt action against MACC and Latheefa.