Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned the motives of those playing up the repatriation of the remains of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng, saying that such trivial matters were just to cast the government in a bad light.

Speaking to the Malaysian press in Seoul on Thursday, Dr Mahathir pointed out that no one kicked up a fuss when other CPM leaders such as Shamsiah Fakeh and Rashid Maidin returned to Malaysia.

He also said Malaysians did not appreciate the country and chose to focus on things that they do not have.