Dr Mahathir on Monday demanded that Mr Anwar furnish the proof of his allegations.
“Making accusations is easy. But accusations that are not clearly proven, cannot be accepted as true. It is slander,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also accused the current government under Mr Anwar as rejecting the country’s Constitution after a pro-Malay gathering was called off.
A Malay rights event had been set to take place on Mar 19 in Kuala Lumpur, with Dr Mahathir in attendance as the guest-of-honour. It was cancelled after two venues withdrew their permission for the event.
Dr Mahathir on Monday said that he had participated in the event – organised by a group called Sekretariat Tanah Air – to make the Malays in the country aware of their problems by launching the “Malay Proclamation”.
He also claimed that the content of the planned event complied with the provisions of constitutions of the country and that of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
He added that obstruction of the launch meant that the government rejected both the country and UMNO’s constitutions.
“UMNO did not object. UMNO no longer adheres to the goals of its establishment. That is why other factions need to be held to protect the rights of Malays and other Bumiputeras.
“When the Government prevents other parties from launching this proclamation, it betrays the promise in the National Constitution. That is why the Malays should be concerned about the government led by Anwar Ibrahim,” said Dr Mahathir.
He had previously criticised the government when the event was first called off, claiming that the current administration was a “dictatorship” that does not “allow the people to voice their opinions or criticise it”.
Free Malaysia Today reported then that Dr Mahathir said that he had no proof but was convinced that Mr Anwar was behind the cancellation as “nothing like this can be done without his consent or directive”.
Before the cancellation of the event, Mr Anwar had ordered security forces to be on alert against those fanning racial and religious flames in the country.
“Any effort by anyone who tries to … heat up the racial or religious temperature in this country will not be allowed,” Mr Anwar told a press conference after a Cabinet meeting on Mar 17.
In the 15th General Elections last year, Dr Mahathir failed to defend his Langkawi seat, losing his deposit after finishing fourth in a five-cornered fight.
It was his first electoral defeat in 53 years.