KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused the international media Tuesday of trying to demonize Malaysia's new leader, who is battling opposition accusations of links to corruption and murder.
Mahathir's defense of Prime Minister Najib Razak reflects concerns within the ruling party that the leader's reputation has been tarnished because of unproven allegations by political adversaries.
Mahathir said many articles published in the Western media when Najib took power earlier this month were "anti-Najib stories" that highlighted the accusations against him.
"From France to Britain to Australia, the articles are identical and carried the same message," Mahathir wrote on his blog. "I cannot believe that this demonization by so many at the same time is a coincidence."
Mahathir — a strident critic of the Western media during his 22 years as prime minister before stepping down in 2003 — said Najib should brace himself for more foreign criticism, but added that it was ultimately with Malaysians "that Najib has to clear his name."
Mahathir holds no government post, but still commands wide respect and his views often receive attention from leaders and members of the ruling party.
The prime minister recently said he has been a victim of personal attacks in the media, referring to allegations by opposition leaders and bloggers that he was involved in a shady government contract to buy submarines from France.
He has also been accused of links to the murder of a Mongolian woman, who was the estranged lover of Najib's friend. He has denied the allegations.
Najib succeeded former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was pressured to retire after the ruling coalition retained power with its weakest parliamentary majority ever in March 2008 general elections.