‘I can be PM too’, PPP chief says after Dr M attack on Najib

(Malay Mail Online) – Tan Sri Dr M. Kayveas joined other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders today, voicing the PPP’s support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership in the wake of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s stinging attack against the prime minister.

The PPP president castigated the 89-year-old for his suggestion to the BN coalition to replace Najib, saying Dr Mahathir is a person who is never satisfied about anything.

“We cannot keep changing leaders. There is no guarantee that anything will be better,” Kayveas told a news conference after launching PPP’s 62nd anniversary party here.

He had been asked to respond to Dr Mahathir’s warning that the ruling BN coalition may lose power at the next general elections due in 2018 unless there was a leadership change.

He pointed out that Dr Mahathir had chosen Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as his successor after stepping down as prime minister in 2003, but then complained the latter was “no good” and pushed for Najib to take over.

“If he replaces him with Muhyhiddin, after a while he will say he is no good and replace him too,” the BN component party leader said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s name has been among several floated as possible candidates to take over from Najib.

“One day maybe he will replace him with Mukhriz. What will he say then? That he’s no good?” Kayveas asked, referring to Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir who is also Dr Mahathir’s son.

“If you want to change PM, I can be prime minister,” he added.

Kayveas lashed out at Dr Mahathir and banded the elder Umno politicians with the opposition for their “speculation comments”, which he claimed was damaging to the country.

“We love Tun Mahathir very much.  But if you say something that’s gonna hurt all of us, then we have to wake up,” he said.