Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is wrong in saying that Mahathir's children had huge financial gains through government contracts, said one of Mahathir Mohamad's offspring Mukhriz today.

Mahathir's youngest son said that his father - in all his 22 years as the prime minister - had always prevented his sons from using the government directly to benefit their businesses.

"We had to work hard to attain financial success," said the mild-mannered politician and businessman when contacted.

He said that he and his other siblings had to struggle to win government contracts. He added that was also the case in his own business to provide fibre optic cables in Malaysia.

"My factory is the largest in the country. We have an excellent track record. We manufacture cables for Telekom Malaysia. I am confident Telekom can vouch for that," he added.

He was responding to Abdullah's remarks yesterday that Mahathir's children got bigger government contracts than his son Kamaluddin.

In the ongoing spat between Mahathir and Abdullah, the former had accused the prime minister of giving government contracts to Kamaluddin's company Scomi Sdn Bhd. He further accused Abdullah of allowing his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin to have a big influence in government policies.

Side-stepping the matter

Mukhriz said that Abdullah was steering the spotlight away from him by talking about Mahathir's children.

"His comments looked very personal. What my father did was to bring up the issues that relate to the national interests, but instead there was response (by Abdullah) with personal attacks. With personal attacks, issues are not properly addressed," he said.

Mukhriz said that his father was not a person who would accuse someone without any basis.

"My father would not say anything unless he has ample evidence. My father has been repeating this in the past eight months and the PM has said he will respond to it in detail. It's what we have been hoping for."

He also noted that Abdullah, in talking about Mahathir's children getting contracts, also admitted that his own son too had benefited from the government.

"He never said that his son never received contract. It was just mentioned that other people's son received a bigger contract," added Mukhriz.

Media ploy

Mukhriz also contended that the government-controlled mainstream media was now 'going all out to get' his father.

"The media has gotten the Sultan (of Johor) and commoners against him," said Mukhriz.

"The media is pressuring my father. On Sunday (after the meeting with Abdullah), they (reporters) were chasing him down, and they were (waiting) at his home. He gave the press conference, but was described as passing out venom instead by the media," he added.

He added that the media also coaxed Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail of Johor into commenting that Mahathir, as a pensioner, should just keep quiet.

"We know of a (television presenter) who approached the Sultan asking a prepared question that merely asked whether pensioners should meddle in government business or not. The connection to Mahathir was made later," he said.

Mukhriz, who is also a Umno Youth exco member, added that his father was made to look bad by the media

"It's such a concerted effort now by the media. They're doing their very best to demonise him. The spinning is amazing!"

Substantial clout

Yesterday Abdullah responded to the latest bout of attacks from Mahathir by saying that the criticism from his predecessor was like doses of venom on him.

The two leaders are still at loggerheads despite having a two-hour meeting on Sunday. After the meeting, Mahathir said that he would continue to criticise Abdullah's leadership until changes were made.

Abdullah yesterday retorted that Mahathir had not given him sufficient time to explain the issues by suddenly increasing his acerbic attacks.

Mahathir today issued a statement stating that there was a culture of fear in the country where everyone was afraid to say anything about the premier and as such he had taken it as his task to question Abdullah's administration.

Talks of siblings of leaders gaining unfair advantage is not new. During Mahathir's tenure, his three sons - Mirzan, Mokhzani and Mukhriz - have been described as holding substantial clout in the country's corporate circles.

Mahathir however has always said he did not allow his son to use the government machinery to make money.