KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asserted that he was Perikatan Nasional’s choice to helm the government following Pakatan Harapan’s collapse in February last year.
He said he was PN’s prime minister candidate as he had statutory declarations of support from PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and others.
“Since the beginning, I was the (prime minister) candidate (for the new government after PH). That was how (Bersatu MP Datuk Seri) Hamzah Zainudin could get statutory declarations from Hadi, from Najib, and from the others,” he told Malaysiakini in an interview.
“All of them gave their support to me, so that when he (Hamzah) leaves and I, too, leave (PH), I would be the prime minister for the party I had fought against. But I did not want this.
“So, when (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) knew I did not want (to be part of the plan), he volunteered himself. So, he became prime minister.”
Dr Mahathir reiterated that he had reservations about working with “criminals”, referring to Umno’s “court cluster”.
Party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib both have criminal cases against them.
“I made promises to the people. I promised the rakyat that we (PH) wanted to bring down Najib. So, I cannot work with Najib,” said Dr Mahathir.
“The (ruling) party today would collapse without the support from Najib and several others in what we call the ‘court cluster’. The so-called Malay-Muslim government is dependent on non-Malays, and secondly, dependent on criminals.
“I cannot be associated with that.”
After the interview was published, Najib responded via Facebook.
“The essence of Tun Mahathir’s interview with Mkini is Najib, Najib, Najib.
“Turns out he wants to join PN, but I’m the obstacle.”
In the interview, Dr Mahathir did not discount the possibility of working with PN if leaders in the “court cluster” are not in the coalition.
“Umno people can join Bersatu. There is no need for Umno anymore, because Umno’s name has been tainted.
“Najib is the killer of Umno. Najib destroyed Umno. His father built Umno, and he destroyed it. He has no shame at all for destroying his father’s heritage.” – The Vibes, April 15, 2021
