DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has pledged to give one million deserving Malaysians a donation of RM1,000 each if it is proven that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had given him RM1 billion in bribes.

"If Mahathir had given me an RM1 billion bribe, I hereby declare that I will give one million Malaysians earning below RM1,200 a month a donation of RM1,000 each," he said in a statement last night.

Calling the bribe "mythical" Lim was nonetheless vexed at the MACC's refusal to investigate him.

"I was utterly dumbfounded when MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki (photo)... pleaded that the MACC has no jurisdiction over political donations and that the MACC Act 2008 does not cover offences related to money politics.

"MACC’s contention that there is a need for special legislation by Parliament for political funding before MACC can take action against money politics and corruption is a red herring.

"It’s just an excuse and cover-up for MACC's failure and inaction against the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s RM2.6 billion 'donation' in his personal banking accounts.

"There is nothing under the law to stop MACC from acting against the prime minister, a minister or any political leader for the criminal offence of money politics or the use of money to buy political favours, except for the lack of political will in the MACC," said Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP.

He said MACC was very wrong and had failed in its duty to fight corruption.

"I do not accept that - if it is true that I had received RM1 billion bribe from Mahathir... it is no offence of corruption.

"MACC officers who hold such views are not qualified to be MACC officers at all.

"Clearly, the MACC is deliberately giving a very narrow interpretation of “corruption” to justify its inaction on the prime minister and the 1MDB scandal," Lim said.

The claim that Mahathir had bribed Lim with RM1 billion was first made by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

Raja Petra claimed this was for Lim to remain silent on the forex scandal, allow Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to join Harapan and its chairperson Mahathir to lead the coalition as well as to provide a safe parliamentary seat for Mahathir's son Mukhriz to contest in.

This claim was reproduced by, among others, Utusan Malaysia and Malaysian Digest.

Lim had said he had initiated legal action on the matter, but he did not specify against whom or against which publication.