Mahathir makes spectacular comeback

LANGKAWI: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has made a stunning comeback to Parliament, winning the Langkawi parliamentary seat comfortably.

As at 10.30pm, the Pakatan Harapan chairman had garnered 13,658 votes against Barisan Nasional incumbent Datuk Nawawi Ahmad’s 6,587. PAS candidate Zubir Ahmad managed only 3,256 votes.

The Election Commission later announced the official results – Dr Mahathir 18,954 votes, Nawawi (10,061) and Zubir (5,512), putting the winner’s majority at 8,893. The voter turnout was 82.6%.

The former prime minister, who had cast his vote in Kubang Pasu earlier in the day before returning here, left Langkawi at about 5pm to join other Pakatan leaders in the Klang Valley.

“If Pakatan loses, yes, I am prepared to serve as Opposition Leader.

“But I have travelled throughout the country, and I see that people are ready for a change.

“So, let us get ready for change,” Dr Mahathir told reporters before flying off.

Nawawi did not answer calls from reporters.

Unofficial results showed that Pakatan also won the Kuah and Ayer Hangat state seats, making a clean sweep in Langkawi.

As events unfolded later last night, Dr Mahathir claimed in Petaling Jaya that Pakatan had clinched the minimum 112 parliamentary seats to be able to form the Federal Government.