Malaysia’s Mahathir says ready to form ‘unity government’ if Muhyiddin’s budget fails to pass parliament on Tuesday
- The former prime minister said Malaysia ‘has too many problems’ and indicated he would be happy to lead it for a third time ‘if I have enough votes’
- He was speaking at a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur with erstwhile rival Razaleigh Hamzah of the United Malays National Organisation
The pair distanced themselves from the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition and said they were not working with any MPs belonging to the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) who are being tried in the courts.
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“You can call it ‘unity government’ if you want to. If I have enough votes, I do not mind being the PM,” Mahathir said. “We have discussed [finding] ways to return as a progressive country again. We realise that our country has too many problems … All of those in the government are [in it] for their own political gain and big salaries.
“We need to make policies of advancing the country and not for our own parties and not for our own selves.”
“They can vote against Budget 2021 but they will not be part of the new government, ” Mahathir said.
Although the pair repeatedly said that they were not positioning themselves as replacement prime ministers, Mahathir indicated he would not mind taking the top job for a third time if he were to get enough support from other MPs.
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Razaleigh said that although he is an Umno MP, he is free to support whoever he wants.
When asked if he is willing to face disciplinary action for failing to toe the party line, he said: “What disciplinary action? I am here sharing a platform with Dr Mahathir for the good of the country.”
He added that he will not take part in the debates for the budget on Tuesday and will not be voting for it.
Read the original article at The Star
