Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's claim that his administration is transparent is an embarrassing joke, an opposition leader says.

Najib’s claim has made Malaysia a laughing stock, DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua, who is also the MP for Petaling Jaya Utara, said.

"Najib Razak must be the most shameless prime minister in the world today, to have the cheek to still label his administration as a 'transparent government'.

"Malaysians can only cringe in embarrassment as the world, after being exposed to the shenanigans of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the extravagant display of wealth of the ‘first family’, makes us a laughing stock with the prime minister’s statement," Pua ( right ) said in a statement today.

He was referring to a televised speech made by the prime minister last night, in which Najib defended his performance and said as a transparent government, he would never surrender .

Najib's statement appeared to be directed at former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has become increasingly vocal in calling for Najib to step down.

Despite Najib’s claims of being transparent, Pua said, the prime minister has not shed any light on the 1MDB scandal, including the Sarawak Report claims that business tycoon Low Taek Jho had siphoned US$1.83 billion into his own companies.

"Despite the scale of the scandal, Najib’s most transparent government refused to verify the above allegations and chooses to ask Malaysians to be patient with 1MDB," he said.

'Najib must give straight answers'

Pua also took aim at the reply from the Prime Minister's Office's to the New York Times report on the lavish lifestyle of Najib and Rosmah Mansor.

The DAP lawmaker called on Najib to stop making a fool of Malaysians and to live up to his transparent claim by giving straight answers to these scandals.

"There is little Malaysians can do if Najib chooses to ignore all valid criticisms, remain thick skinned and not resign as the prime minister.

"However, the least he can do is to stop making a fool of Malaysians, and start giving some straight answers as a ‘transparent government’ should.

"If Najib is serious about being ‘transparent’ and not just interested in engaging in political rhetoric, then he must immediately respond to the specific allegations made by the New York Times and Sarawak Report ," Pua added.