BUDGET 2017 Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak took a veiled swipe at his former mentor turned nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

When tabling Budget 2017 in Parliament this evening, the prime minister recalled visiting the late PAS leader Haron Din in hospital.

During the visit, he said Haron reminded him that one should not love or hate someone too much as the feelings towards the person could change in time.

"Because maybe the person whom we hate will become someone we will love," said Najib to raucous response from the House.

"That's what that has happened, perhaps this is why someone went to search until the courts for someone whom he once hated."

Though the prime minister did not mention names, it was an obvious reference to Mahathir meeting his former heir apparent turned foe Anwar Ibrahim in court last month.

Earlier, Najib criticised Malaysians who are sabotaging the economy, and called for an end to such irresponsible action.

He said the government is aware of talk that investors were no longer confident in the Malaysian economy.

"It must be understood that a country's economy is tied to perception...

"But if our own people undermine or sabotage the economy it is akin to 'merudumkan rumah dan tanah air sendiri' (demolishing one’s own house).

"This is the work of enemies outside, what more those within the country... such irresponsible action must be stopped," he added.

Mahathir has accused Najib of numerous misdeeds, including siphoning the funds of 1MDB.

However, the prime minister has repeatedly denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and claimed that the former premier is attempting to topple him from power.