Dr M, 93, is oldest candidate in GE14

LANGKAWI: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is contesting the parliamentary seat here under the PKR ticket, making him the oldest hopeful in the 14th General Election (GE14).

The record for an oldest ever candidate taking part in the polls is held by 94-year-old Maimun Yusof, who stood as an independent candidate for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat in the 13th General Election (GE13) five years ago.

Dr Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, will face a three-cornered fight with Barisan Nasional incumbent Datuk Nawawi Ahmad, who is defending the seat for the second term, and Pas candidate Zubir Ahmad.

Dr Mahathir is making a comeback into the general polls after almost 20 years in his bid to return to Parliament as the prime ministerial candidate for the DAP-led opposition pact.

He is the longest serving prime minister holding the post for 22 years before stepping down in 2004.

Dr Mahathir had served as the Kubang Pasu member of parliament in Kedah for five terms, since the constituency was formed in 1974 until his retirement from politics.

On April 15, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced that Dr Mahathir would contest the Langkawi parliamentary seat under the PKR ticket during a rally in Padang Mat Sirat here.

PKR was formed following the controversial sacking of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by Dr Mahathir in 1998.

The event sparked the biggest reformation movement in the country’s political history.

The official announcement of the Langkawi parliamentary seat candidates was made by the Election Commission returning officer Muhamad Arof Darus at 11.30am.

Nawawi had won the seat in GE13 after defeating PKR’s Ahmad Abdullah and independent candidate Marina Hussein with a 11,861-vote majority.

Nawawi, who will defend the seat for the second term, said he was not intimidated by Dr Mahathir but, at the same, would not take the challenge lightly.

“I am prepared physically and mentally.

“I am not cowed by the challenge from a person who has no power.

“I am confident that my services to the people here for the past one term will be judged fairly by voters and we are poised to defend the 3-0 victory for the Langkawi parliamentary seat and two states seats, Kuah and Ayer Hangat,” he said after the nomination process at the Langkawi District Office.