DR MAHATHIR Mohamad has declined to run for the Kemaman parliamentary seat despite pleas from Malay group leaders, two close associates to the former prime minister said.

A source told The Malaysian Insight that Dr Mahathir was not interested in contesting again due to his age. Dr Mahathir is 98 years old.

“In the last two meetings when we asked him, Dr Mahathir said he was not interested in contesting again.

“He feels that his time has passed and he is getting older. He is afraid that he will not be able to perform well at his age,” the source said.

He said Dr Mahathir wants to help to develop Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu as adviser to Perikatan Nasional (PN), which governs the four states.

“Dr Mahathir’s focus now is to develop the four PN-governed states,” he added.

Another source told The Malaysian Insight Dr Mahathir “pleaded” not to be nominated for the Kemaman by-election.

“Tun (Dr Mahathir) begged not to nominate him. He is already unwell,” said the source.

A second source also said Dr Mahathir wanted to focus on matters related to the four PN states.

“There are proposals from foreign investors for the four states and there is a strategy that Dr Mahathir wants to consider,” he said.

Islamist party PAS had previously denied reports that it was considering nominating Dr Mahathir to stand in Kemaman.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said those reports were not true.

Voice needed

The first source denied it was the Malay Proclamation group which had proposed to name Dr Mahathir as a candidate.

“It is not the idea of the Malay Proclamation group but a request from his close friends.

“Those who want Dr Mahathir to contest, they want him to return to parliament.

“Dr Mahathir’s voice in parliament is very much needed, at least for one to two years.

“Unfortunately, Dr Mahathir does not seem interested in running again,” he said.

Dr Mahathir failed to defend his Langkawi seat in the general election and lost badly when he won less than 10% of the vote, losing his deposit.

This is the first time Dr Mahathir has lost an election since 1969 and the second in his political history of contesting 11 elections.

In the GE, Dr Mahathir’s Gerakan Tanah Air also failed to win a single parliamentary or state seat..

The by-election was fixed for December 2 after the court revoked PAS’ win following evidence of bribery. – October 31, 2023.