AT 93, many people will find it difficult to even sit up, but Dr Mahathir Mohamad is on his second stint as its prime minister.

The nonagenarian told reporters recently that he feels as strong as he could be at his age. 

“I still feel as strong as I could be at the age of 93. Not many people at the age of 93 can even sit,” the prime minister said.

“I think I am still able to answer your nasty questions (questions from the media).”

He was asked if he felt rejuvenated after leading the government for a year or if fatigue had set in. 

The world’s oldest head of government said he had not performed as badly as other world leaders, some of whom have to deal with domestic conflicts.

“As far as I am concerned there are many leaders in this world and I don’t think I am worse than Trump (United States President Donald Trump),” Dr Mahathir said in a special interview ahead of Pakatan Harapan’s one-year anniversary in power.

The president of the United States is arguably the most talked about world leader under normal circumstances, but the Trump administration has brought coverage to another level as it is beset with controversies and public backlash.

“I don’ t think I am worse (off) than the British leaders and also the French leader who are having to deal with the yellow shirts and the Spanish leaders who have to deal with the secession.”

British Prime Minister Teresa May is grappling to get a rancorous  Parliament to agree to a Brexit deal, while French President Emmanuel Macron has had to deal with persistent grassroots protests on economic grouses. The Spanish government, meanwhile, has to deal with secessionist sentiment in the autonomous Catalan region.

On passing over the mantle of prime minister to Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir said the promise will be fulfilled.

“That is definite.”

Dr Mahathir had said he will remain in power for two years before making way for the PKR president. 

After serving the nation as prime minister for 22 years in his previous stint, Dr Mahathir said his job now was to prepare the country as much as possible to reach greater height before stepping down again. 

Anwar was deputy prime minister in Dr Mahathir’s cabinet for five years before his sacking, detention under the Internal Security Act and subsequent imprisonment on corruption and sodomy charges. 

Anwar’s fall from grace led to the formation of PKR, led by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is now deputy prime minister in Dr Mahathir’s present cabinet. 

However, the two men buried the hatchet in a bid to unseat Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election last year – the first transition of power in Malaysia after 61 years of Umno led rule. 

Dr Mahathir’s party Bersatu joined forces with PKR, DAP and Amanah to form the Pakatan Harapan coalition. – May 8, 2019.