Tun M hints comeback to contest GE15

Dr Mahathir, who has twice led the reins of the government, stressed that his announcement that he would not contest in GE15 previously had caused a sense of uneasiness among his supporters.

"They (supporters) still want me to contest. It is true that most people at the age of 95 are no longer active. I am lucky I still have the opportunity to be active.

"However, they do not seem to think that I will deteriorate as I get older. They see me as I am now. So, they want me to at least not say that I will not contest (in GE15), "said the statesman in an interview with The Straits Times (ST) Singapore.

Late last month, the Langkawi Member of Parliament announced that he would not contest in GE15.

In an interview with Kyodo news agency, Dr Mahathir, however, said he would remain in the political arena for a short period of time.

The 4th and 7th Prime Minister stressed that although he would not contest again, that would not stop his efforts to fight corruption through his new party, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang).

"I want a little more time but I think I will only serve for a short period. But I will not contest in GE15," he said in the interview.

Meanwhile, in the interview with ST, Dr Mahathir said he could not work with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin because his successor was using a strategy like Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak by undermining all those who opposed him.

"How can I accept Muhyiddin like that?," he said while stressing that the president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) was also ready to work with Najib because 'politics is more important than principles'.

Despite refusing to make peace with Muhyiddin, Dr Mahathir also admitted that the current opposition MPs were no less opposed to the Prime Minister.

This is because, the opposition also does not seem to be in line due to the support for the Prime Ministerial candidate did not reach a consensus.

Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held a press conference on September 23 announcing that he had gained enough support to form a new government.

However, the Port Dickson MP has so far not furnished evidence to support his statement other than has not been granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present the numbers that he has purportedly attained.

"Anwar was opposed by many people. If I am not accepted, many (Dr Mahathir's supporters) will withdraw causing him not to get a majority.