Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak fears for his safety and has asked for police protection, his spokesman said on Sunday, a day after the ex-leader complained about the conduct of police searching properties for evidence of corruption. Having ruled Malaysia for nearly 10 years, Najib - and his wife, Rosmah Mansor - have been barred from leaving the country after his coalition's defeat in an election on May 9. The new government led by his mentor-turned-foe, Mahathir Mohamad, wants answers to how billions of dollars disappeared from 1Malaysia Development Berhad , a state fund founded by Najib.