Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declined to comment at length with regard to his predecessor Najib Abdul Razak being slapped with four charges at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

He also brushed aside the former premier's allegations of persecution and that he was a victim of political vengeance.

“You better ask him. I don’t know,” he replied.

Mahathir told reporters this as he was leaving the Prime Minister's Department's Hari Raya open house function in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Najib, who was arrested last night, was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power.

The former premier claimed trial to the charges which were related to the SRC International issue.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini last week, Najib claimed that the Pakatan Harapan government had no choice but to charge him.

Hoping for a fair trial, the former premier also described his trial as a test for Malaysia.

“The Pakatan Harapan government's current political storyline is simple: 'Najib stole billions'. Hence, the country is close to bankruptcy and (Harapan) cannot deliver their manifesto promises and may have to sell off or privatise state assets such as Petronas.

“Already, the Japanese newspapers have reported that The Philippines' San Miguel conglomerate is eyeing our state oil and gas assets,” he said.

Najib said this coupled with what he described as a “misleading claim” that the national debt was at RM1 trillion left Mahathir's administration with little room to manoeuvre.

“This situation and what they have said before means that the new government simply has no choice but to eventually arrest or charge me even though I did not steal.

“I maintain that I am innocent as I am not a thief,” he stressed when asked if he was concerned about being arrested.

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