Dr M: Get ready GE14, here I come

SHAH ALAM: PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced yesterday that he may contest in one of three parliamentary seats – Langkawi, Kubang Pasu or Putrajaya – in the 14th general election (GE14).

“They are telling me that I have a good chance of winning in Langkawi, Kubang Pasu or Putrajaya. So be ready for that,” the former prime minister told a press conference after his winding-up speech at the PPBM annual general meeting held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) here.

Asked why the meeting’s debate session was held behind closed doors, Mahathir said it was to allow delegates to speak freely.

“If we open it to the public, they would feel afraid to speak up in front of the media, fearing that their words could be twisted or misreported,” he said, in response to comparisons with the debates at the Umno general assembly this month that were open to the media.

“Umno had already instructed those who attended not to raise controversial issues,” he said.

On the apology he gave during his speech for offending anyone, and saying or doing anything wrong in the past, Mahathir said it was customary for him as a Malay to do so.

“I already said it’s our custom as Malays to apologise for whatever wrongdoing one has done,” he said.

He said it was important to always be humble and apologise, stressing that whether he had done wrong or not was a different matter.

Since the formation of PPBM in September last year, there has been speculation that Mahathir, 92, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman would contest in the next general election due by August next year.

He had also be touted by various quarters to be PH’s most suitable candidate for prime minister if they take over Putrajaya.

Mahathir, who was prime minister under Barisan Nasional (BN) from 1981 to 2002, had previously said he would not contest again.

The former prime minister is said to be popular in Langkawi and Putrajaya, due to the development projects he had brought to the areas during his tenure as prime minister.

He had served as MP of Kubang Pasu from 1974 to 2004. --FMT