‘DR M SHOULD HAVE SUGGESTED AZMIN IF HE DID NOT WANT TO BE PM CANDIDATE’

He should have suggested Azmin as PM candidate if he wants to rest, says Umno man

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad should have just suggested that Datuk Seri Azmin Ali become the prime ministerial candidate for Pakatan Harapan if he really did not want to lead the country again if the opposition pact wins the next general election.

Umno Information Bureau Thinkers panel member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam said it was “hilarious” that Dr Mahathir was now saying that he would rather rest than take up the top post after being asked to do so by other opposition leaders.

“If it is true, he should have just suggested that Azmin be nominated instead as the latter is younger and has experience governing Selangor.

“I don’t think Azmin would have rejected.

“As it is, we can see how Azmin’s supporters have been reacting in the past few days,” he told Berita Harian yesterday.

In a speech in Pontian, Johor, yesterday, Dr Mahathir said he did not want to become the prime minister (again), but had been asked to do so if the opposition won the next general election.

Dr Mahathir said he wanted to rest but could not do so, from the time he handed over the prime minister’s seat to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his successor.

“I have been involved in politics since 1945 and have never stopped.

“Now, even after I retired, I have been unable to stop.

“A week after I retired, Pak Lah (Abdullah) started creating problems... from then until now I have been unable to stop (getting involved).

“It’s not that I want to become prime minister,” he said in his speech at Kukup Golf Resort.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Umno information chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad said if Dr Mahathir claimed that he was being forced, then it’s high time that Pakatan Harapan reviewed its decision on the prime ministerial candidate.

“It is his own admission that he wanted to retire and rest.

“So, why force the man to lead the nation in the event Pakatan wins the next elections?”

MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, meanwhile, was not surprised at Dr Mahathir’s statement.

“Making U-turns and contradicting statements is expected of the former premier, and he seems to have a steady track record in double talk.

“Despite strong objections from various quarters, including PKR Selangor, why must he still agree to the proposal?

“If you really want to rest, then make it clear.”

Meanwhile, MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said if indeed Dr Mahathir was forced into the position, then it only showed that the opposition pact could not find any credible candidate among the three political parties for the prime ministerial candidate.