(June 5): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he was advised by a “friend”, who was recently appointed as PR strategist to the prime minister, not to attack Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

The person also warned that Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister would lose his legacy if the attacks did not stop.

Writing in his blog today, Dr Mahathir said that this person, whom he considered a "friend", had repeatedly warned him in a meeting last week that he would lose his legacy if he continued to attack Najib.

Although Dr Mahathir did not name this "friend", whom he also identified as an educationist, it was obvious he was referring to Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, who has just been appointed as Najib's PR strategist.

Dr Mahathir said that in the past, his friend, an educationist who had expanded his business overseas, had expressed concern about the policies and performance of the Najib administration and had urged the former prime minister to do something about it.

But Dr Mahathir said during a recent visit by this friend, he appeared to have changed and urged him not to attack the prime minister instead.

He added that this person, who is now installed at the Prime Minister's Office, was working hard to cover the wrongdoings in 1MDB.

He added this was seen in the main pages of the mainstream media which now carried explanations on how the borrowed RM42 billion was spent, when before criticism were just ignored.

"Now Najib has been advised to answer to explain.

"However, he lost an opportunity to explain when he did not turn up for the ‘Nothing to Hide’ forum," Dr Mahathir said.

He added there were still many questions left unanswered on 1MDB such as US$6 billion supposedly brought back from the Cayman Islands.

"My ex-friend will have to do better at demonising me if he is to earn titles and so on," Dr Mahathir added.

The Malaysian Insider reported on May 22 that Lim, who has run Barisan Nasional's election campaigns, was made Najib's new public campaign coordinator in a charm offensive to win over Malaysians and shore up the prime minister's flagging popularity.

Lim rode high during Dr Mahathir's administration, but the former prime minister is now Najib's harshest critic.

Lim, who founded the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, will report directly to the Prime Minister's Office which already has a string of advisers.

The 69-year-old, who set up Malaysia's first local advertising agency, has been involved in election campaigns for almost four decades.

In 1994, Lim, on recommendation by Dr Mahathir, was tasked by the late Nelson Mandela in South Africa's first free elections, giving his African National Congress (ANC) the slogan, "A better life for all". – The Malaysian Insider