The chairman of Pakatan Harapan and PPBM said such individuals, guided by their insolence and greed, were not affected by criticism against their acts, or the effects on the nation, as long as they were rewarded.

“When they are found to have stolen, they do not feel the slightest shame. Even though they are accused of stealing and are proven to have stolen, it is alright for them,” he said in a blog post today.

“The world can label them thieves, corrupted, rogues – that doesn’t matter. They just smile.”

He said because of their actions, the country was shamed instead, and listed as a corrupt nation.

He also claimed that it was all right with such officials, even when Malaysia was labelled as a kleptocratic state.

Mahathir, 92, added that there was also no shame when certain officials were promoted or appointed to positions that they were not eligible to hold, even when such moves went against the law.

The former Umno chairman, who ruled as prime minister for 22 years, said there were also those who accepted stolen money, “kissing hands” to be rewarded.

After having obtained a rank or position due to their ability to “membodek” (flatter to gain favour), they had no hesitation in taking orders from their boss even if the superior was wrong, he said.

“Dignity is not important for them anymore. They allow themselves to be insulted, to be looked down upon, as long as they get money, position and rank,” he said.

“People can view them with disgust, ridicule them – but they do not care. At most, the people will lose their land and become wayfarers in their own country, their children and grandchildren becoming coolies.

“Even this does not matter because those who do not know shame will have no shame in becoming beggars and coolies in their own country.”