PUTRAJAYA (Oct 5): Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed has appealed to the Council of Rulers to take action over alleged wrongdoings concerning 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) when the council meets on Oct 11.

Mahathir said he is appealing to the council after failing to convince Yang DiPertuan Agung Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah to use his power to remove Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

"I met with the King in his palace in Anak Bukit, Kedah on Sept 16 and pointed out that it is within his rights to refer to the Federal Court to remove Najib if he is dissatisfied with the prime minister. This is provided for in the Federal Constitution," he said at a press conference today.

The former premier said the King can refer to the court for an interpretation in line with the King's and Rulers Council's dissatisfaction over the passing of the National Security Council (NSC) Act without royal assent earlier this year.

Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, however, said the King was not prepared to heed his request during the meeting.

He is therefore appealing to the Council of Rulers to discuss the 1MDB issue, including the lawsuit by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to seize properties linked to the state fund.

"We appeal to the Rulers Council to take action on all the wrong things that are being done by Najib. We want their opinion about 1MDB and the suit by DOJ, and want them to take action on it.

"We have sent letters to all the rulers and hope they will contribute towards solving this maladministration of this country by the present government," he said at a press conference today.

In July, US federal prosecutors launched civil suits against several individuals including Najib's stepson Riza Aziz and businessman Low Taek Jho, seeking to recover more than US$1 billion (about RM4.15 billion) worth of assets linked to a conspiracy to launder funds taken from 1MDB.

Mahathir said although he amended the law during his 21-year tenure to enable the passing of Acts of Parliaments without the King's consent, the ruler is able to still challenge laws that infringe the latter's duty and role through the Federal Court.

"The government ignored the encroachment of the law on the ruler's right and did not discuss the (NSC) Bill before waiting for the period to lapse, and for it to become an Act. Because the government ignored it, it is within the King's right to refer to the court for an interpretation," he said.

The Act, which came into effect on Aug 1, enables the NSC chaired by the prime minister to command Malaysia's armed forces and police areas that are threats to security.

Mahathir said he was making the call to the rulers on behalf of the 1.2 million Malaysians who signed the Citizens' Declaration.

"What I did was not wrong. It is provided for in the Federal Constitution that the King need not only listen to the prime minister but he also can listen to other people. I consider myself other people," he said in reference to flak by certain quarters who claimed Mahathir had no right to meet with the King.