GE14 | Former Bersatu member Anina Saadudin, who is now aligned to BN, has dared three former ministers now backing Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to declare their assets.

In a press conference broadcast live on her Facebook page, she named Rafidah Aziz, Daim Zainuddin and Rais Yatim as members of Mahathir's "old cartel," who had allegedly amassed great wealth during Mahathir's 22 years as prime minister.

"The involvement of the trio in Mahathir's campaigning in Langkawi in the 14th general election had roused the suspicions of people in Langkawi. By right, they should declare their respective assets, as had been done by several Harapan leaders.

"It is ironic that members of this 'old cartel', who had amassed such great wealth during Mahathir's era, through cronyism and misuse of power, are now coming forward to 'save Malaysia'. Do they want to save Malaysia, or themselves?" she asked.

Rafidah, Daim and Rais have of late voiced out against the administration of caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak on several issues, including the 1MDB. The former two have even appeared at Mahathir's campaigning for the Langkawi parliamentary seat to pledge support.

Following this, Umno sacked Rafidah and Daim as members while Rais' membership is "under investigation." Rais is expected to make an appearance at a Harapan ceramah in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, tonight.

Anina, who is also a former Langkawi Umno member, also asked Mahathir to clarify allegations that he and his family owned 488 companies, and are worth US$44 billion (about RM170 billion).

"He (Mahathir) should explain how his children got so many contracts and tenders from various ministries and government-linked companies, during his tenure as the prime minister.

"Is there any truth to allegations that three of his children are billionaires?" she asked.

Anina then dared Daim, who is a former finance minister, to reveal how he attained the funds to purchase the ICB Financial Group chain of banks in 1994, which was "coincidentally, about the time when Bank Negara Malaysia lost about RM30 billion in foreign exchange trading."

Anina, who now leads the NGO Empirical Malaysia, left Bersatu last September after lamenting that the party was badly governed by leaders who could not take criticism.