There is a conspiracy being stitched by the foreign media, aimed at ousting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak from power.

rais yatim interview 160409 02 According to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim, the allegations by the foreign media against the new leader was a grand design to topple the prime minister.

He said the foreign media had used the same tactic before, and failed, during the time when Dr Mahathir Mohamad helmed the country.

The foreign media, he added, would use various terminologies relating to the prime minister's character to give the impression that he was unacceptable to lead the country.

Rais was asked to comment on Mahathir's statement that there was a continuous and concerted effort by the foreign media to put Najib in bad light as prime minister.

altantuya murder case publish on french newspaper la liberation 050309 The minister said Najib had been linked to certain issues which could tarnish his good name despite that these were mere allegations made up by the media in Europe and the United States.

He believed that the allegations against Najib would eventually die down.

"However, we must study (the situation) and if I have the chance, I want to have a debate with those trying to implicate our leader with unbecoming and nonsensical words," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Rais to Zaid: Let's debate

On Zaid Ibrahim who has been often quoted by the foreign media running down Najib, Rais said he challenged the former minister to a public debate.

Comparing Zaid to 'Si Lunchai' (an ignorant Malay folklore character), Rais said: "Let's see how great he is in using all these terms against the prime minister."

Najib, who became the sixth prime minister earlier this month, has been constantly hounded by controversies, chief among them being the murder of 28-year-old Mongolian national Altantunya Shaariibuu.

Despite the premier repeated denials of having any links with the matter, and even having publicly swore in the name of God, the allegations and speculations have refused to subside.

mahathir and rais yatim pc 190309 04 Mahathir had recently called on Najib to ' clear his name ' pertaining to the allegations concerning corruption and the Altantuya case.

He however accused the foreign media of seeking to 'demonise' the new prime minister.

"Najib can expect to hear more of this kind of demonisation from the foreign press but it is what Malaysians think that counts.

"It is with them that Najib has to clear his name," said Mahathir in a blog posting.