‘I may be forced to consider premiership’

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he may be “forced to consider” becoming prime minister again if Pakatan Harapan had such a plan for him.

During a live session on his Facebook page, Dr Mahathir was asked whether he would agree to becoming the country’s prime minister again, if the opposition won the 14th General Election.

“I cannot belakangkan (ignore) my friends in the Pakatan Harapan coalition. If they have such a plan and it is agreed upon, I would be forced to consider it.”

The 92-year-old, however, said at the moment, he would not agree to being reappointed as prime minister.

“I have said that after I retire, I will not become prime minister again.”

Dr Mahathir stepped down in 2003 after 22 years in office.

Instead of becoming prime minister, he expressed hope that he would be given the opportunity to voice his views in the new government.

Dr Mahathir, who is now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, said he was ready to partake in discussions to seek solutions to problems faced.

“I was prime minister for 22 years. I have a lot of experience and information that may be useful.

“If (the opposition) forms the government after GE14, I am ready to take part in discussions to find solutions to problems that we are facing.”

In the 20-minute session, Dr Mahathir also answered a question on the recent Proton Holdings stake acquisition by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Co Ltd.

He denied claims that he himself had approached Geely when he was Proton adviser.

“That is untrue. I went to visit the Geely factory with Syed Mokhtar. It was after I retired and I became adviser to Proton and we were finding ways to further improve our car,” he said, referring to DRB-Hicom owner, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.

“One of the ways was to change the engine. Geely bought over Volvo, and Volvo is an engine expert. I also went to Sweden to try Volvo cars and then I went to Geely.

“We wanted to see if there could be any form of cooperation that Proton could have with Geely, similar to how I agreed to cooperate with Volkswagen,” he said. Dr Mahathir also said he was the “chief tester” of all Proton cars and drove Proton cars every weekend, adding that he still had a modified Proton car that he tests weekly.

“I test all Proton cars on the test track and outside.”

I cannot belakangkan (ignore) my friends in the Pakatan Harapan coalition. TUN DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD Former prime minister