“If they (the authorities) noticed any irregularities, they should not have waited for the prime minister’s directive to address the issue,” he said on the latest episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast.

“That was not my job. That was the job of the police, the (then Anti-Corruption Agency). They should have taken action.”

While he could take responsibility for the issues that emerged during his tenure as party president, Mahathir said he could not be blamed for the culture of bribery that emerged.

When Mahathir was Umno president, Anwar Ibrahim was his deputy until his sacking in 1998.

“However, Anwar didn’t personally handle the money. He delegated it to his associates, granting them access,” the former Langkawi MP said.

Mahathir was questioned by podcast co-host and former minister Khairy Jamaluddin about the inaction during his tenure as Umno president.

Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan had initially prompted Mahathir to comment on allegations that corruption and money culture in Umno had originated during his leadership.

“Even today, some Umno leaders will say that it all started during your time, sir,” Shahril said.

Previously, Mahathir had described Umno as “totally corrupt” and that jailing Najib Razak for embezzling public funds through a 1MDB subsidiary was not likely to cleanse the party he once led.