Dr Mahathir back in the race, says he has the numbers to win

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 29 Feb 2020 9:33AM · 10 Comments

Following a meeting with Pakatan Harapan leaders this morning, Dr Mahathir Mohamad has offered himself as a candidate for prime minister again. – The Malaysian Insight pic, February 29, 2020.

DR Mahathir Mohamad has offered himself as a candidate for prime minister again and is confident he is able to garner the numbers in parliament to be the leader.

In a statement, the interim prime minister said the decision will be conveyed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I am now confident that I have the numbers needed to garner majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. I am therefore prepared to stand as prospective candidate for prime minister.

“This decision will be conveyed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.

The Langkawi MP said he this morning met with the leaders of Pakatan Harapan, who have thrown their support behind their former chairman.

Dr Mahathir’s decision comes hours after Bersatu said it is backing its president Muhyiddin Yassin for the prime ministerial post.

Until now, Muhyiddin has been confident of the support of 97 MPs.

Thirty-six of them are from Bersatu, and this includes former PKR MPs on Mohamed Azmin Ali’s team; 39 from Umno; 18 PAS; two MCA; and one each MIC and PBRS.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, meanwhile, has on his side 93 MPs, all of whom are from PH.

It is unclear how Dr Mahathir’s decision will affect Bersatu.

This morning the party’s youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman declared in a video that he will never work with corrupt people or form a government with them, indicating a split in the party.

In his statement today, Dr Mahathir reiterated that he is against any form of cooperation with individuals who are known to be corrupt and was part of the kleptocratic administration which the Pakatan Harapan government had worked hard to remove.

“As a matter of principle I had conveyed this to the Bersatu members of parliament in the meeting yesterday,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said he had never signed a statutory declaration in support of any individual.

“In fact I left the meeting early to allow for a free debate among members of parliament from Bersatu to choose whomever they feel is suited for the post of prime minister.

“And as I have stated before, while I am not prepared to work with those who are corrupt from Umno, I can accept them individually so long as they are proven clean.

“Perhaps Muhyiddin is more relaxed in this approach,” he said, with a tinge of his famous sarcasm. – February 29, 2020.

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Comments

  • Saya sokong 100%. He is the most eligible, experienced and capable.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kamal Hisham · Reply

  • All the best Tun

    Posted 4 years ago by Dato Radha · Reply

  • Who is going to CHECK N BALANCE Mahthir . Dia buat Suka Hati dia sahaja . MENIPU VOTERS.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • We need a PM who Represent MALAYSIA Not a PM who Represent One Race Only. How abt other citizen of msia who build n contribute MORE THAN ENOUGH to MALAYSIA. GOD CREATED VARIETY WHO IS HUMAN TO QUESTION THE UNIVERSAL CREATOR.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • Power crazy proven....

    Posted 4 years ago by Mandor Mamagi · Reply

    • Exactly.

      Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Pemgkhianat PH = pengkhianat rakyat. Kami tidak mahu orang ini yang tidak khidmat rakyat.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Dia main politik sampai hari terakhir semata mata menjaga kebaikan sendiri. Merosakkan Malaysia dan tidak ingin menangungjawab. Bahaya orang tua ni.

      Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • 100% support Tun. PH please toe the line and work for the betterment of the country. Set aside all personal egos and ambitions.

    Posted 4 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • PRAY, PRAY AND PRAY THIS IS THE LAST SHUFFLE. The Kleptocrats and "Pintu Belakang" Cartels must be exposed and made to pay the price.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ali Karim · Reply