IF THERE are no other suitable candidates after the next general election, Dr Mahathir Mohammad has said he would be willing to offer himself as a candidate for Prime Minister.

The former prime minister said that if the people keep insisting that he should take up the position again, then he had no choice but to accept it for the third time in his political career.

“If I think about my situation now, I want to relax. But, I can’t simply think about myself.”

“But, if there is no one (suitable PM candidate) then I will accept.”

“But, it’s not for five years (to be PM) but maybe only one year,” he said at a Hard Talk forum in Selangor today.

Some political analysts have predicted that there was a likelihood that no single coalition will win the 15th general election outright and will have enter into a deal to form the next government.

On August 4, Dr Mahathir formed Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) that comprises Pejuang, Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia and Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional. 

He had previously said that GTA would contest 120 parliamentary seats in the peninsula, which is where the majority of Malay voters are, and where Umno had contested.

The Langkawi MP, however said that he did not start Pejuang just to become prime minister for the third time. 

“I just want to ensure that there are policies in place to asisit the Malays which is implemented by a caring government that upholds race, country and religion.”

Dr Mahathir also said that the quality of today’s leaders have deteriorated. 

He had previously held the post of prime minister from July 1981 to October 2003 and later from May 2018 to March 2020 for a cumulative total of 24 years, making him the country’s longest-serving prime minister. – September 24, 2022.