I should be dead, Dr M jokes about his second round as PM

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has admitted feeling his age due to his administration having to deal with issues inherited from the previous government.

In an interview with AFP at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today, the 93-year-old leader joked that given his "exhaustive" task, he "should be dead now, actually."

Mahathir said that the biggest challenges his government faced were the renegotiations of deals with China - sealed by the previous administration - and efforts to settle a mammoth national debt. 

"It is exhausting. This time around, I have to do more work than the first time I became a prime minister... the whole government machinery has been destroyed almost," he said.

Mahathir had served as prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, and was sworn in as prime minister for the second time after Pakatan Harapan won the May 9 general election.

The 1MDB scandal, linked to former premier Najib Abdul Razak, has been fingered as one of the possible contributors to BN's downfall.

Mahathir's rise to power has also seen top figures in the government, from the Bank Negara chief to the attorney-general, either leaving their positions or being replaced.

"I had to get rid of people, who in the past, under the previous government had... politically been involved with the government.

"A lot of things were spoiled by Najib in his effort to use every institution to ensure his winning the election," he added.

Mahathir said his administration had to cancel several China-funded mega-projects, such as the East-Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and gas pipeline projects, because the government "just cannot afford it."

The prime minister added despite the cancellations, Malaysia's relationship with China was "still good".

Mahathir also commented on his relationship with PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim, who is his designated successor for the second time as well.

He dismissed tensions between them, saying: "I have worked with him before... I have no problem, I can work with everybody."

The prime minister conceded that as age catches up, he has no choice but to relinquish power.

"I have made a promise, I will keep my promise," he was quoted saying, insisting that he would stick to his pledge to hand over the baton to Anwar.

Prior to the election, Harapan said Mahathir would step down after two years and Anwar would succeed him as the eighth prime minister.

However, Mahathir has on numerous occasions indicated that he would remain in the post longer, igniting talk of a possible repeat of the 1998 incident where he sacked Anwar on allegations of sexual misconduct, which the latter claimed were fabricated.

Earlier this week, Anwar dismissed speculation that a conspiracy was in the making to thwart him from becoming the next prime minister.

"This (rumour) is the media's interpretation. Those that believe there is a larger intrigue, a conspiracy that was repeated from 1998," he said. - Mkini