'Say it to my face,' Dr M tells ageist critics

 

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a surprise appearance at a forum which aimed to discuss whether he was too old to become prime minister.

 

"I'm here guys. Say it to my face," the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman posted on Twitter with a picture of himself sitting while facing the forum's panellists and moderator on Thursday.

 

Dr Mahathir reportedly arrived at the forum about an hour after it started at 3.15pm.

 

Sinar Harian, which organised the forum, quoted the former prime minister of 22 years as saying that he was still active physically and mentally.

 

"Being active is very important. I have been active by thinking and solving problems," he reportedly said when he was handed the microphone.

 

To a question on how he looked after himself, Dr Mahathir, who is Pakatan Harapan's prime minister candidate, said that he did not overeat.

 

"When the food is tasty, my mother used to say stop," he said.

 

In a blogpost earlier, Dr Mahathir, who will turn 93 in July, said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak does not need to be afraid to debate him.

 

"YAB is still young. What is there to be afraid of by debating a 90-year-old person," he said, adding that Najib could ask him about his record as prime minister.

 

Dr Mahathir said he realises that he does not have much time left but that as long as he still had life in his body, he would fight for race, religion and country. 

 

Ada forum bertajuk, “Adakah Tun M terlalu Tua untuk jadi PM?”
Saya hadir.

I’m here guys. Say it to my face. pic.twitter.com/riazno9c2q — Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) March 22, 2018