This happened after the government made a ruling that ministers cannot accept gifts worth more than RM500.
In that case, why not gift the Prime Minister with a lot of food?
According to a report by Malaysiakini, Dr Mahathir said some had even sent him a tonne of dodol, literally!
However, the days of him receiving lavish gifts are long gone.
"I no longer get many gifts. When I was the prime minister the first time, I was gifted 26 cars which I returned and some I put at the Langkawi museum," he reportedly said.
"What we can accept are food and flowers. Now there is a lot of food and flowers at my house.
"There are even people who delivered one tonne of dodol, fruits and I had to give them away,” he added.
On 9 June last year, Dr Mahathir introduced the new gift policy which applies to members of the administration, including ministers and political secretaries.