Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak is disappointed with Dr Mahathir Mohamad for describing Malaysia as “Darul Penyangak” (Land of Thieves).

He noted that the former prime minister based his claim on the allegation that Malaysia is governed by leaders who siphoned public funds through 1MDB and the implementation of GST.

“It is unbecoming of Mahathir to declare Malaysia as such. As a former PM, such a declaration is unpatriotic and outside the peripheries of political sense,” Salleh added in a blog post this afternoon.

Salleh said even if Mahathir resented the present government, he should not disparage his own country.

“Good or bad... this is our country and we need to defend it together, not insult it,” he added.

The minister pointed out that Mahathir kept repeating the 1MDB and GST issues in his blog postings and speeches in order to incite hatred towards Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (photo) and to topple Najib.

“Mahathir’s strategy is like attacking a snake, that is, by knocking its head repeatedly until it becomes weak and immobilised.

“That's all Mahathir wants, to bring down Najib. This is grudge politics which is not good,” he said.

Salleh said Najib had explained the issues raised with facts, including the rationale for implementing GST.

“Mahathir definitely was not hearing and accepting any of the explanations as his goal is to topple Najib because of (a) political grudge, not for the sake of the country,” he added.

The prime minister has denied abusing public funds for personal gain with regard to 1MDB.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared Najib of any wrongdoing.