Dr M: How do they expect me to win with ‘thieves’ around?

(FMT) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at Umno’s challenge to prove his mettle in the 14th general election (GE14), saying the political scene is no longer the same as there are now “thieves” around.

Mahathir, who was the country’s longest-serving prime minister, led Malaysia from 1981 to 2003.

“I had always managed to win two-third majority votes. But back then, there were no ‘thieves’, so it wasn’t a problem for me to win two-third majority votes.

“It isn’t the same anymore today. How do they expect me to win with ‘thieves’ around?” he said when met by reporters at a forum titled “Jho Low protected by China?” organised by Amanah Youth here last night.

He was responding to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who had challenged the 92-year-old to prove his ability to win in the era of social media.

“Too many times he had boasted and reminded us of his success in winning five general elections, each time with a two-thirds’ majority. The nostalgic fairy tale is once again being hawked as proof that he is a popular and great leader compared to the current leader.

“Those carried along by the nostalgic fairy tale forget that the political environment of the past is vastly different from the present,” Khairy had said.

Mahathir also told reporters that he was unsure if the people wanted him as interim prime minister should the opposition coalition win in GE14.

“I don’t know if everyone agrees with that.

“First, it was Pak Lah who messed things up, then it was Najib,” he said, referring to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“Then they asked me to be PH chairman. Now they want me to be interim prime minister. Wow, it sounds like fun,” he quipped.

Mahathir added that although he had retired, he had not taken a rest so far.

“I want to go on a cruise, but I never had a chance to go on one,” he said.

During its retreat last weekend, PH had named Mahathir as its candidate for interim prime minister if the coalition takes Putrajaya in the coming polls.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was named as candidate for PH deputy prime minister.