Najib Abdul Razak is hoping to gain sympathy by portraying himself as being oppressed by the current administration, according to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

However, Mahathir pointed out that the Najib administration was more oppressive, citing the MACC's orange-lock up outfit as an example.

"He is looking for sympathy. He claims to be oppressed but when he was prime minister, others had to don the orange outfit even before being charged.

"(Sabah Chief Minister) Shafie Apdal was not charged yet but had to wear the orange shirt. Others had to wear it too, but we gave leniency to him (Najib).

"He was charged months ago, (but) he is free (from imprisonment, but) creates all sorts of stories to get support," he told reporters in Cameron Highlands today.