GE15: Dr M will defend Langkawi seat

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will defend his Langkawi parliament seat in the coming 15th General Election.

"It was decided that Dr Mahathir will be the candidate for Langkawi, but not as prime minister candidate.

"We won't decide who will be the prime minister candidate, as it is relevant only if we win," Dr Mahathir said at a Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) press conference in Yayasan Perdana on Tuesday (Oct 11).

He said that GTA, a Malay-Muslim movement set up in August this year, had also agreed to contest in 120 parliamentary seats.

"All candidates will contest under the Pejuang logo and banner in the coming polls.

"The exception will be in Kelantan, where GTA candidates will contest using the Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) logo," he added.

He said that GTA agreed to rely on the Pejuang logo and banner, as the movement has yet to be registered as a political party.

Even if GTA was registered now, he said that there would be insufficient time to prepare the necessary materials.

GTA consists of four political parties, namely Pejuang, Putra, the National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman) and Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa).

It also includes non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academicians and individuals.

Dr Mahathir said that individuals from NGOs and others under GTA will also contest under the Pejuang logo and banner.

He added that GTA will also field candidates in Sabah.

Asked if GTA was willing to work with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the polls, Dr Mahathir said this would be considered.

He refused to confirm if GTA and Bersatu had met.

Asked if GTA is willing to work with 'traitors' against Umno, Dr Mahathir said that this could be considered.

"We have to think who is the bigger traitor," he said.

The former Pakatan Harapan administration under Dr Mahathir collapsed when Bersatu pulled out of the coalition in February 2020.