DR Mahathir Mohamad said he does not want to be prime minister again if fresh elections are held.

“I’m not offering myself, but I look at things as a duty to my country and not duty to myself,” said the country’s oldest lawmaker at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“I don’t care about the money as I think we are overpaid as ministers. I was paid RM20,000 (per month) and I didn’t even spend one sen as everything is given by the government. What else do you want? 

“I’m not interested in my personal well being but if I can be of service and people want it so, I am available. 

“But not for long, as I’m already 94 years old. How many more months do I have?” Dr Mahathir said after he was asked whether he be prime minister again in another Pakatan Harapan campaign.

Speculation is rife that snap elections will be held due to the instability of the current government led by Perikatan Nasional, which ousted PH three months ago.

The PN government, led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, said 114 out of 222 MPs support it, but its majority has been cast in doubt after the resignation of Shahruddin Salleh as deputy works minister.

Another minister speculated to resign was Redzuan Yusof, who is a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions). But about an hour before Dr Mahathir’s press conference today, he announced that he was not resigning.

A loss of three lawmakers could trigger the collapse of the three-month old PN government that consists of Bersatu, Barisan Nasional, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

Dr Mahathir said PN has shown how it was willing to abuse power to remain in government.

“Although, they are just in power for two to three months, they are willing to abuse their power by offering jobs and positions to people to support them.

“Many are appointed because they want to indirectly bribe these people. Unfortunately many have succumbed to such offers.

“PH has cleaned up a lot of government companies, but they (PH appointees) are being sacked and replaced with politicians,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to the spate of MPs appointed to head GLCs. 

He said the new government was also using the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to pressure his supporters in Bersatu.

Over the past several days, the anti-graft body has arrested several Bersatu youth leaders for corruption. 

These leaders are also aligned to Dr Mahathir ally and sacked Bersatu youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.