The Malaysian Insight

DR Mahathir Mohamad today denied owning horses in Argentina, saying he was lucky to have a friend there who let him ride the animals when he visited.

“Najib (Razak) says I spend a lot of money feeding them. I would like to tell you that I do not have horses in Argentina. I never owned one. My friend there lends it to me. 

“After I ride the horse, I feed it carrots. They are cheaper than quinoa,” he said.

He said he used to go to Argentina once a year and he would get on a horse during those visits.

However, he said he had not been to visit his friend in the last two years because he had been busy working to get Najib ousted.

“I hope my horse is still alive,” said Dr Mahathir.  

He was responding to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s remark that Dr Mahathir’s horses required horse feed, which cost more than Najib’s quinoa diet, which had caused both indignation and laughter in recent days as opposition politicians and social media users had their say.

Dr Mahathir had been among those who had mocked Najib for his expensive tastes, saying quinoa cost 20 times more than local rice –which was all Dr Mahathir said he ate.

“Even my quinoa diet can become an issue. I still do eat nasi lemak and nasi vanggey,” said Najib at a gathering with leaders in Negri Sembilan, yesterday.

Najib said he ate the imported grain as a substitute for rice on his doctor’s advice.

With opposition leaders and online Malaysians accusing Najib of showing a “disconnect” with the people, the Prime Minister’s Office last week issued a statement saying Najib was often served rice at the events he attended in his official capacity.

“The Prime Minister’s Office has been informed of actions by certain quarters, including opposition leaders, to twist Prime Minister Najib Razak’s statements about his health and diet routine, which he spoke about during the Budget 2018 with the people programme yesterday.” – February 27, 2018.