Attempts from within Umno to defend Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over allegations linked to state-investor 1MDB have now reached a ludicrous level, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking at a press conference today, Mahathir referred to the reported statement by Langkawi MP Nawawi Mohamad, allegedly linking Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah to the 1MDB scandal.

"Now there is the allegation by the United States Department of Justice that funds from 1MDB was siphoned by Najib's stepson Riza Aziz, his friend Jho Low and an individual identified as Malaysian Official 1.

"It becomes a problem because now there are people who said Malaysian Official 1 is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Is Riza Aziz the Agong's stepson?," he asked.

"It is quite clear that in an attempt to placate (Najib), to brown nose, maybe to get dedak (animal feed)... they (Nawawi) made a completely ludicrous claim," said Mahathir.

The refusal by Umno leaders to act on criticisms and allegations against Najib, Mahathir said, were among the factors which eventually forced the formation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Mahathir also reiterated that the new party was formed only after the leaders had resigned to the fact that there is no more room for reform within Umno.

Also present during the press conference held at Universiti Malaya Alumni Association clubhouse, were Bersatu pro tem committee president Muhyiddin Yassin and the other five committee members.

In a Facebook comment, on Aug 17, which was then edited four hours later, Nawawi had said that based on the Federal Constitution, it is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who is responsible for the government.

Nawawi, however, later claimed that his remark was misunderstood.

He further claimed that he mentioned ‘Malaysian Official Number One’ instead of MO1 and that his comment was related to the Public Accounts Committee report on 1MDB, and not to the DOJ filings.

MO1, according to the DOJ, is a high-ranking public officer whom it claimed received US$731 million of siphoned 1MDB funds.

The DOJ also said that MO1 is a relative of Najib's stepson Riza Aziz.