Dr M says may start new party if court rules against him on Aug 7

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) says he has not decided if he will be contesting in the next general election but will consider forming another political party if the court decision on Aug 7 regarding his removal from Bersatu is not in his favour.

However, he said he would play a very prominent role in the election campaign even if he did not contest.

“If I am 98 years old when they have the elections, obviously there are physical constraints, but if I am well, I will give every support possible, ” he was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia (CNA) on Wednesday (July 22).

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has fixed Aug 7 for the decision on an application by Prime Minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and three others to strike out a suit by Dr Mahathir and four other people.

Muhyiddin and the three are seeking to strike out the legal challenge against the removal of Dr Mahathir and the other four members from Bersatu.

Dr Mahathir said if he and the four others in Bersatu were expelled from the party, they would have to consider forming another party.

He first mooted the idea on July 14, saying that he and his supporters might contest under a new party should there be a snap election.

Dr Mahathir claimed in the interview that Pakatan Harapan did not have enough Malay support.

When asked about his relationship with former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who served under his administration as the economic affairs minister, he said Azmin’s perspective in politics was too narrow.

Dr Mahathir said Azmin was focused on his fight against PRK president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“That is too narrow a perspective for a politician.

"You should think about the development of the country. You cannot, just because of your dislike for one person, colour everything you do, ” he said.

In late February, Azmin initiated a coup in what came to be known as the "Sheraton Move".

It saw Azmin and 10 other PKR leaders, along with a majority of Bersatu members, defecting from Pakatan Harapan and cooperating with Umno, PAS and GPS to form the Perikatan Nasional government.